U.S. Air Force Praises MQ-9 Reaper as Iran Campaign MVP Amid Budget Debate
On May 20, 2026, U.S. Air Force leaders told Congress that the MQ-9 Reaper was the most valuable platform in Operation Epic Fury, the air campaign against Iran, despite losing 24 drones and the fleet shrinking to 135 aircraft. Lawmaker Rep. John Garamendi challenged the FY27 budget, which allocates $7.4 billion for F-35s and $5 billion for F-47s but only $1.4 billion for Collaborative Combat Aircraft. The MQ-9 production line is closed, and a modular successor is in early development.
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Air Force Dubs MQ-9 Reaper 'MVP' of Iran Campaign Amid Congressional Pressure for Manned-Unmanned Future
On May 20, 2026, Air Force leaders told Congress that the MQ-9 Reaper was the most valuable platform in Operation Epic Fury, the U.S. air campaign against Iran. Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink and Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach praised unmanned systems, with Wilsbach stating no other platform came close to the MQ-9's performance. However, Rep. John Garamendi challenged the Air Force's budget priorities, noting $7.4 billion for F-35s and $5 billion for the F-47 versus only $1.4 billion for Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). The MQ-9 fleet has shrunk to roughly 135 aircraft after 24 losses in Iran, with production lines closed. The Air Force seeks $996.5 million for initial CCA procurement and is developing a next-generation unmanned platform. Meink confirmed the service is not divesting the MQ-9 but looking at multiple follow-on platforms.
Military TimesAir Force Dubs MQ-9 'MVP' of Iran Campaign Amid Budget Disparity and Fleet Losses
On May 20, 2026, Air Force leaders told Congress that the MQ-9 Reaper was the most valuable platform in Operation Epic Fury against Iran, despite suffering 24 losses that reduced the fleet to roughly 135 aircraft. Secretary Troy Meink and Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach praised unmanned systems as central to the future, but Rep. John Garamendi challenged the FY27 budget, which allocates $7.4 billion for F-35s and $5 billion for the F-47, while only $1.4 billion goes to Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). The MQ-9 production line is closed, and a modular, attritable successor is in early development. The article highlights tension between operational praise for drones and continued heavy investment in crewed fighters.
Air Force TimesAir Force Dubs MQ-9 Reaper 'MVP' of Iran Campaign Amid Congressional Pressure for Manned-Unmanned Future
On May 20, 2026, Air Force leaders told Congress that the MQ-9 Reaper was the most valuable platform in Operation Epic Fury, the U.S. air campaign against Iran. Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink and Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach praised unmanned systems, with Wilsbach stating no other platform came close to the MQ-9's performance. However, Rep. John Garamendi challenged the Air Force's budget priorities, noting $7.4 billion for F-35s and $5 billion for the F-47 versus only $1.4 billion for Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). The MQ-9 fleet has shrunk to roughly 135 aircraft after 24 losses in Iran, with production lines closed. The Air Force seeks $996.5 million for initial CCA procurement and is developing a next-generation unmanned platform. Meink confirmed the service is not divesting the MQ-9 but looking at multiple follow-on platforms.
Military TimesAir Force Calls MQ-9 Reaper 'MVP' of Iran Campaign Amid Budget Disparity with Manned Fighters
On May 20, 2026, U.S. Air Force leaders told Congress that the MQ-9 Reaper was the most valuable platform in Operation Epic Fury against Iran, with Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach stating no other platform came close. However, lawmakers like Rep. John Garamendi criticized the FY27 budget for allocating only $1.4 billion to Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs) versus $7.4 billion for F-35s and $5 billion for the F-47. The MQ-9 fleet has shrunk to 135 aircraft after 24 losses in Iran, with production lines closed. The Air Force is developing a modular, attritable successor to the MQ-9, while Secretary Troy Meink confirmed the service is not divesting the current fleet.
Defense NewsAir Force Dubs MQ-9 Reaper 'MVP' of Iran Campaign Amid Congressional Pressure for Manned-Unmanned Future
On May 20, 2026, Air Force leaders told Congress that the MQ-9 Reaper was the most valuable platform in Operation Epic Fury, the U.S. air campaign against Iran. Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink and Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach praised unmanned systems, with Wilsbach stating no other platform came close to the MQ-9's performance. However, Rep. John Garamendi challenged the service's budget priorities, noting that the FY27 request allocates only $1.4 billion for Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) versus $7.4 billion for F-35s and $5 billion for the F-47. The Reaper fleet has shrunk to roughly 135 aircraft after 24 losses in the campaign, with production lines closed. The Air Force is developing a next-generation unmanned platform, described as modular, open-architecture, and attritable, while confirming it will not divest the MQ-9.
Military TimesAir Force Dubs MQ-9 'MVP' of Iran Campaign Amid Budget Disparity and Fleet Losses
On May 20, 2026, Air Force leaders told Congress that the MQ-9 Reaper was the most valuable platform in Operation Epic Fury against Iran, despite suffering 24 losses that reduced the fleet to roughly 135 aircraft. Secretary Troy Meink and Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach praised unmanned systems as central to the future, but Rep. John Garamendi challenged the FY27 budget, which allocates $7.4 billion for F-35s and $5 billion for the F-47, while only $1.4 billion goes to Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). The MQ-9 production line is closed, and a modular, attritable successor is in early development. The article highlights tension between operational praise for drones and continued heavy investment in crewed fighters.
Air Force TimesAir Force Dubs MQ-9 Reaper 'MVP' of Iran Campaign as Lawmakers Question Budget Priorities
During a May 20 House Armed Services Committee hearing, U.S. Air Force leaders praised the MQ-9 Reaper as the most valuable platform in Operation Epic Fury against Iran, with Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach stating no other platform came close. However, lawmakers like Rep. John Garamendi challenged the service's budget, which allocates $7.4 billion for F-35s and $5 billion for the F-47 but only $1.37 billion for Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) development. The Reaper fleet has shrunk to roughly 135 aircraft after losing 24 drones in the campaign, representing up to $1.2 billion in destroyed airframes. The MQ-9 production line is closed, and a successor is in early development. Secretary Troy Meink confirmed the service is not divesting the MQ-9 but is looking at multiple follow-on platforms.
Defense NewsAir Force Dubs MQ-9 'MVP' of Iran Campaign as Lawmakers Question Budget Priorities
On May 20, 2026, Air Force leaders told Congress that the MQ-9 Reaper was the most valuable platform in Operation Epic Fury against Iran, despite suffering 24 losses that reduced the fleet to roughly 135 aircraft. Secretary Troy Meink and Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach praised unmanned systems as central to the future force. However, Rep. John Garamendi challenged the disconnect between this rhetoric and the FY27 budget, which allocates $1.4 billion for Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) versus $7.4 billion for F-35s and $5 billion for the F-47. The MQ-9 production line is closed, and a modular successor is in early development. The article highlights tensions between manned and unmanned investment priorities.
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