Drones and Unmanned Systems - Air, Sea, Land, Micro & Robot Systems

PARIS -- The Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has launched the Massed Modular Aircraft (MMA) effort to develop a low-cost, attritable hunter-killer drone capable of performing many of the missions currently handled by the MQ-9A Reaper. The effort reflects growing concern over the vulnerability of expensive, high-value aircraft after nearly 30 MQ-9As were reportedly lost during recent operations against Iran.

DIU is seeking a modular aircraft that can carry at least 2,800 pounds of payload, self-deploy up to 8,000 nautical miles, and support strike, reconnaissance, and intelligence missions with interchangeable payloads. A full-scale prototype is expected within 21 months of contract award, with an initial operational capability of 20 mission-ready aircraft targeted by FY31. General Atomics, despite ending MQ-9A production in 2025, plans to compete with a next-generation offering. The program will use an Other Transaction agreement to accelerate development and encourage participation from both traditional and nontraditional defense contractors.

Source: Breaking Defense
Associated URL: https://breakingdefense.com/2026/07/diu-seeks-cheaper-drones-to-carry-out-reaper-missions/
Author: Michael Marrow 

WASHINGTON - The Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) 2026 annual report on major defense acquisition programs (MDAPs) reveals that schedule delays have persisted across 104 of the Department of Defense’s costliest weapons programs, which represent a planned investment of over $2.4 trillion. The overall average time frame to deliver a capability has increased to more than 12 years, with several programs failing to set new delivery dates or delaying critical interim milestones. Additionally, the report highlighted a mixed pricing structure where 46 of 72 programs reported cost increases totaling $122 billion, while 16 reported decreases totaling $47 billion.

A primary focus of the 2026 report is the Middle Tier of Acquisition (MTA) pathway, a mechanism designed to field weapons quickly within five years. The GAO found that many of the 23 most expensive MTA projects, which represent a $49 billion investment, are being fast-tracked despite utilizing immature technologies lower than Technology Readiness Level 6 (prototype stage). Specific delays were noted across several high-profile programs, including a 2.5-year delay to the initial operational capability of the Navy's MQ-25 Stingray, a 55-month shipyard delay for the Arleigh Burke-class Flight III destroyers, and cost and schedule overruns within the Air Force's B-52 radar modernization program.

Source: Military Times
Associated URL: https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/07/06/pentagons-top-new-weapons-programs-are-12-years-behind-schedule-watchdog/

GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. - The U.S. Air Force’s Point Defense Battle Lab (PDBL) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to identify qualified vendors capable of providing Counter Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-sUAS) kinetic hard-kill solutions for Group 1-3 systems. The initiative seeks industry collaboration to improve the service's market understanding and support the PDBL's mission to develop and validate Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) for drone detection, tracking, interception, and neutralization. The PDBL intends to utilize the responses to shift installation defense toward a more proactive posture and rapidly evaluate advanced technologies to protect Air Force assets and personnel.

To meet the Air Force's operational requirements, proposed technologies or services must be easy to use with minimal training, transportable via palletized cargo, and deployable by a team of four or fewer personnel within two hours. Additionally, systems must withstand extreme weather conditions, including ambient temperatures of -40 degrees and winds of 20 to 30 mph. The PDBL is specifically targeting several kinetic hard-kill technologies, including Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) launchers, 30mm gun-based airburst systems, automated small-caliber weapon stations, and autonomous 3-D printed drone-on-drone interceptors. Despite the kinetic nature of the RFI, the effort also seeks information on high-energy lasers (2-20kW), and high-power microwave systems.

Source: Forecast International
Associated URL: https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/29ee623b12bf4239a8ef226388d1c0a8/view