General Atomics unveils Wildfire as a successor to the MQ-9 Reaper

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • September 28, 2026 19:13

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US company General Atomics has unveiled the new Wildfire medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial system (UAS) concept as a potential successor to the MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aircraft. Specialist analysts’ coverage of the announcement would align with the need to replace the United States’ MQ-9 Reaper fleet, following losses recorded during military operations against Iran, compounded by capabilities deployed in the fighting against the Houthis in Yemen, as well as questions surrounding its performance and effectiveness in the operational environment.

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General Atomics Wildfire and the MQ-9 Reaper replacement

The Congressional Research Service report, “U.S. Aircraft Combat Losses in Operation Epic Fury: Considerations for Congress”, specifies that 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones have been lost since operations involving Iran began. As reported last May, the US Air Force currently has a fleet of 135 aircraft in operational service. The service is seeking replacements for the lost unmanned aircraft, while also planning a new model to take over from the MQ-9 Reaper family, featuring a modular open architecture and the ability to be manufactured easily at scale.

This new General Atomics initiative, from the developer of the Reaper, comes amid government efforts to replace the MQ-9 with affordable, modular options able to operate in high-intensity environments. The company has not yet released any images of the Wildfire concept. Quoting General Atomics spokesperson C. Mark Brinkley, as reported by The War Zone, Wildfire “represents a significant advancement over what the Pentagon is currently seeking in a new MALE combat drone”.

General Atomics MQ-9A Reaper

The MQ-9A Reaper remotely piloted aircraft (RPA), powered by a Honeywell TPE331-10 turboprop engine, has a modular design allowing it to carry multiple payloads, including electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) systems, radars, electronic support measures, laser designators and weapon systems. It has a payload capacity of 1,746 kilograms and an operational endurance of more than 27 hours, while being capable of reaching 240 knots and operating at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet.

To enhance its operational deployment capabilities, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems completed flight trials in May involving a US Air Force MQ-9A Reaper equipped with APKWS guided rockets, a weapon system capable of bringing down hostile drones. The integration of GBU-39B glide bombs into the US Air Force Special Operations Command’s MQ-9 Reaper fleet is also noteworthy.

Unmanned aircraft replacement programmes

It is also worth noting the Massive Modular Aircraft (MMA) solicitation, issued in early July by the United States Department of War’s Defence Innovation Unit (DIU). “For decades, the Joint Force has relied on low-density, high-value, ‘exquisite’ (>$30M) crewed and uncrewed aircraft. In high-intensity combat, this model is simply unsustainable,” the unit stated on social media.

“The Joint Force seeks a cost-effective, theatre-range, massed, risk-tolerant unmanned aerial system (UAS) that can be reconfigured in theatre for the delivery of long-range payloads.” Among the required attributes, the DIU states that “MMA must be capable of carrying a variety of payloads, including full-motion video (FMV) sensors, to take on missions currently performed by high-demand platforms such as the MQ-9A”.

Along these lines, Brinkley told The War Zone that General Atomics submitted a proposal for the MMA programme, “but the aircraft [Wildfire] is not dependent on that programme”, as quoted by the outlet.

Images used for illustrative purposes