USAF Wants “MQ-9 Next” Reaper Replacement To Be Modular, Cheap

- USA’s MQ-9 Reaper is getting a silicon soul. Gen. Lamontagne demands “MQ-9 Next”: modular hardware, open-architecture software, and “iPhone-like” upgradability. Why? Because losing expensive drones to Iranian air defenses is bad for the balance sheet. The new spec? Cheap, mass-producible, and attritable. We’re talking swarm logic, not single-point failures. If it flies into contested airspace, it better be replaceable. This isn’t just about range; it’s about owning the code stack to avoid vendor lock-in. Autonomous systems must be agile, affordable, and disposable. The future of air power isn’t stealth; it’s scalability. Build it cheap, build it smart, lose it proudly.