The War Zone
• Thomas Newdick
The U.S. Air Force plans to field a more affordable, mass-producible successor to the MQ-9 Reaper by 2031 while developing a broader family of aerial targets. The systems would range from expendable quadcopters to reusable drones capable of mimicking fifth-generation fighters and UAV swarms.
General Atomics
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The U.S. Air Force plans to field a more affordable, mass-producible successor to the MQ-9 Reaper by 2031 while developing a broader family of aerial targets. The systems would range from expendable quadcopters to reusable drones capable of mimicking fifth-generation fighters and UAV swarms.
The U.S. Army and Mexico’s Army signed a declaration of intent allowing Mexico to procure UAS and counter-UAS systems through the Defense Department’s digital marketplace to combat organized crime. Separately, India signed a ₹1,943 crore contract with General Atomics to lease two MQ-9B SeaGuardian aircraft to the Navy for 30 months.
General Atomics AeroTec Systems is partnering with Sweden’s Trakka Systems to offer an integrated surveillance sensor package for the upgraded Do228 NXT. Separately, BAE Systems’ FalconWorks and Turkey’s TUALCOM signed an MoU to explore resilient autonomy technologies spanning anti-jam communications, assured navigation and electronic warfare.
Qinetiq-owned Inzpire has been awarded an initial three-year contract to deliver multinational training for General Atomics Aeronautical Systems’ MQ-9B and the RAF Protector fleets. The company says the program could eventually support up to 37 instructor crews as it scales training capacity.
High activity
General Atomics is pursuing expanded strike roles for the MQ-9B and its Gambit integration via deals with Kongsberg and MBDA. Meanwhile, Raytheon UK unveiled Red Kite—an affordable sovereign precision munition built on the Stormbreaker airframe. BAE, Boeing and Saab also signed to advance a UK Hawk replacement built around Boeing’s T-7 training system, as Leonardo presses LEO and missile-defense programs alongside an Indonesian M-346F fighter sale.
High activity
Riyadh Air placed orders for 34 additional widebody aircraft on the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, scaling commitments with Airbus and Boeing months after launching scheduled passenger service. Separate reporting pegged Boeing’s opening-day tally at nearly 150 orders, with Airbus countering later, while Pratt & Whitney and British Airways secured the first major deals of the day.
General Atomics is showcasing the Do228 NXT demonstrator at the Farnborough Airshow, highlighting an updated cockpit and cabin on the modernized twin-turboprop airframe. The debut positions the program for the next phase of utility mission readiness following its demonstrator testing work.
The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is collaborating with the U.S. Air Force on a project intended to replace the General Atomics MQ-9A Reaper. Depending on payload configuration, the Reaper platform can cost up to $50 million apiece, making the follow-on effort a significant procurement and modernization undertaking.
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