U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper Drone Fleet Falls to 135 as Closed Production Line Limits Replacement

The Air Force's MQ-9A Reaper inventory has fallen to about 135 aircraft after substantial attrition since fiscal 2022, including combat and operational losses. General Atomics closed the production line, and officials estimate that restarting it could take two to three years, leaving fewer than ten airframes readily available against a stated force floor of 189. The service is accelerating a successor effort called Massed Modular Aircraft and considering near-term alternatives, but neither path immediately replaces lost Reapers. The shortfall is especially significant because Air National Guard units still depend on the type for persistent surveillance and strike.