General Atomics Wildfire: the new drone concept to replace the MQ-9 Reaper

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General Atomics, the US company, has recently unveiled Wildfire, a new medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial system concept. Military observers believe this platform is intended to replace the United States' MQ-9 Reaper fleet. Its emergence responds to an urgent strategic requirement to replenish remotely operated assets following major operational losses.

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Recent action against Iran, together with combat operations against the Houthis in Yemen, resulted in heavy attrition. As a result, defence planners are questioning how well the current fleet performs in contested operational settings. The United States Air Force (USAF) is now looking for a sustainable platform built around an open architecture.

A study entitled “U.S. Aircraft Combat Losses in Operation Epic Fury: Considerations for Congress” outlines these difficulties. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) document records a total of 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones lost since operations began. At present, the military service has 135 aircraft in active service.

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Congressional reports underline major MQ-9 Reaper combat losses

The defence department plans to replace the lost unmanned aircraft with systems that can be manufactured at scale. It also requires an affordable design that can be fielded quickly during high-intensity warfare. The effort comes as the manufacturer adjusts its corporate approach to meet changing national security demands.

General Atomics has yet to publish official images of the Wildfire concept. Nevertheless, company spokesman C. Mark Brinkley discussed the programme with The War Zone. Brinkley said Wildfire “represents a significant leap forward from what the Pentagon is currently looking for in a new MALE combat drone.”

MQ-9A Reaper capabilities and operational equipment

The existing MQ-9A Reaper uses a Honeywell TPE331-10 turboprop engine and a highly modular layout. This arrangement supports the fitting of electro-optical equipment, infrared sensors, radar, electronic support measures and weapons. It has a payload capacity of 1,746 kilograms and an endurance exceeding 27 hours.

Pentagon innovation bodies pursue sustainable mass production

The older drone can reach 240 knots and operate at a ceiling of 50,000 feet. To improve these capabilities, the manufacturer carried out flight testing with Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) guided rockets. The system can effectively destroy hostile drones, while special units are incorporating GBU-39B glide bombs into their inventories.

Through the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), the Department of War (DoW) launched the Massless Modular Aircraft (MMA) solicitation. The organisation wrote on social media: “For decades, the Joint Force has relied on low-density, high-value, ‘exquisite’ (>$30M) manned and unmanned aircraft. In a high-intensity fight, this model is simply unsustainable.”

The defence agency wants an economical, theatre-range, massed and risk-tolerant unmanned system for long-range payloads. The aircraft must be able to carry varied sensors and undertake missions now conducted by the MQ-9A. Brinkley confirmed that General Atomics has submitted a proposal for the MMA programme, although the Wildfire aircraft is not solely reliant on that initiative.

Illustrative images only.