U.S. Air Force Awards $5 Billion Contract for Massed Modular Aircraft Drones
The U.S. Air Force plans to acquire up to 500 Massed Modular Aircraft (MMA) drones by 2032, with the first batch of 100 expected to be operational by 2029. These reconnaissance-and-strike drones are intended as a more cost-effective supplement to existing Collaborative Combat Aircraft and General Atomics' MQ-9A Reaper drones. The MMA program is valued at $5 billion in total, with the Air Force aiming for each drone to cost around $10 million—significantly less than the current Reapers. The contract will likely involve multiple contractors producing different models through a competitive process that may start small and scale up as preferred designs emerge. General Atomics is already involved in similar programs like CCA, while Swarm Aero has also been mentioned as a potential contender for MMA contracts. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink aims to secure additional funding beyond the initial 500 units if Congress approves it.
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Topics: contract awards drones U.S. Air Force