WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Defense Innovation Unit published a notice on April 4, 2026, requesting proposals for a new mass-producible, low-cost hunter-killer drone under its Massed Modular Aircraft program. The notice states the new drone must be producible in high numbers at low costs within five years and must be similar to the MQ-9A Reaper.

The notice states that reliance on low-density, high-value aircraft is unsustainable against layered adversary air defenses. It mandates that large numbers of the new drones must be deployed, with the understanding that some will be lost during combat operations. The Defense Innovation Unit aims for the Massed Modular Aircraft to be operational by fiscal year 2031, defined as having 20 mission-ready drones on standby.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems President David Alexander stated that his company will compete for the Massed Modular Aircraft contract. "Competition brings out the best in General Atomics, and keeps us on our toes," Alexander said. General Atomics ceased manufacturing new MQ-9A drones in 2025.

The Defense Innovation Unit notice requires the winning design to achieve full-scale prototype flight within 21 months of a contract award. Each drone must be capable of carrying a payload of at least 2,800 pounds and possess the ability to self-deploy 8,000 nautical miles one way. The notice also mandates high degrees of modularity to facilitate the interchangeability of payloads and upgrades by the government.

The notice further requires the Massed Modular Aircraft drones to retain the capacity to be equipped with Full Motion Video sensors, enabling them to perform missions currently carried out by the MQ-9A. The Defense Innovation Unit notice describes "exquisite drones" as those costing $30 million or more. Military officials stated the MQ-9A drone can cost as much as $50 million depending on its configuration. Nearly 30 MQ-9A drones have reportedly been lost in combat in recent operations against Iran.

Secondary attributes desired for the winning drone include resilient communications, a tactically relevant airspeed of at least 200 knots, and the ability for one operator to control multiple drones simultaneously. The Defense Innovation Unit plans to issue the contract as an Other Transaction agreement. Responses to the notice are due by July 23, and one-third of the prototype project's costs must originate from non-federal government sources.