DefenseNews.com
• Michael Scanlon
US Air Force calls MQ-9 Reaper the “MVP” of Epic Fury as Congress pushes toward manned-unmanned future; GE/Kratos secure GE426 e
US Air Force leaders told lawmakers on May 20 that the remotely piloted MQ-9 Reaper served as a “workhorse” in the air campaign against Iran, even as the service’s fiscal 2027 budget request continues to prioritize crewed fighters. Separately, GE Aerospace and Kratos won a May 19 US Air Force contract to design the GE426 expendable drone engine for autonomous aircraft.
