US Air Force shortlists seven companies to replace MQ-9 Reaper with 500 new MMA combat drones

The US Air Force has shortlisted seven companies for its Massed Modular Aircraft program, seeking an affordable, modular uncrewed fleet with a target of 100 aircraft by 2029 and 500 by 2032. Anduril, Chaos Industries, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Grid Aero, Otto Aerospace, Shield AI and Swarm Aero were selected on September 30. The proposed aircraft would accommodate interchangeable equipment for surveillance, strike, electronic warfare and communications missions, with a baseline cost target of roughly $10 million excluding mission systems. The competition seeks prototypes about a year after award, ahead of selecting and scaling a production design.