General Atomics Pitches New Wildfire Drone For Reaper Replacement Program | Aviation International News

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

GA-ASI Aims Wildfire at Reaper Replacement

The new drone has a target price well below that of the current MQ-9A

GA-ASI Wildfire drone — General Atomics' Aeronautical Systems unit is proposing the new Wildfire drone as an alternative to its MQ-9 Reaper. © GA-ASI

By David Donald • Contributor - UK

September 12, 2026

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) has unveiled its Wildfire uncrewed air system. The new drone is targeting the U.S. Air Force’s Massed Modular Aircraft (MMA) requirement that aims to replace the service’s current fleet of GA-ASI MQ-9A Reapers, which has incurred a high rate of losses in combat operations against Iran.

Launched in July by the Air Force and the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit, MMA seeks a drone with the performance and load-carrying ability similar to that of the Reaper, quoting an 8,000-mile range and a payload to exceed 2,800 pounds. The latter includes the ability to carry two AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles. The drone must be fully outfitted from the start with high autonomy and for collaborative operations, and with the ability for many air vehicles to be controlled simultaneously by a single operator.

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