Cuts Total Buy To 337 Aircraft

The U.S. Air Force has decided to end its acquisition of MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aircraft in Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 rather than gradually winding down the program.

Air Force Magazine reports that the Air Force revealed in its FY2021 that it will buy its last 24 Reapers this year, which cuts the total acquisition of the aircraft to 337 units. The final Block 5 drones will be delivered in 2023 and 2024.

“In response to direction in the 2018 National Defense Strategy, which directs the services to accept near-term risk in exchange for long-term capability enhancements, the Air Force is shifting its investment towards improved readiness and increased lethality for operations against near-peer adversaries,” service spokesman Capt. Jake Bailey said Feb. 26.

According to the report, the Air Force believes that the MQ-9 can no longer be effective against new air defenses and aircraft developed by countries like Russia and China.

The Air Force now plans to spend $302.5 million between 2021 and 2023 to wind down production. Previously, it had planned to acquire an additional 100 Reapers though 2023. The production line shutdown was first reported by Inside Defense earlier this month.

Chris Pehrson, General Atomics’ vice president of strategic development, said the abrupt shutdown of the production line without a transition plan jeopardizes the services ISR capabilities.

Pehrson said that he believes Congress will move to change the Air Force's plan. He said the announcement was likely a "budget drill", and that in the past, lawmakers have added money to buy more MQ-9s.

(Image from file)

FMI: Source report