미공군, MQ-9A를 대체할 MMA 개발경쟁업체로 7곳을 선정

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When Computers Went To Sea | MQ-9 대체할 MMA의 가성비 - Daum 카페

MQ-9 대체할 MMA의 가성비

GA, 안두릴 외에 처음 들어보는 스타트업들도 있네요. 록히드마틴이나 노스롭같은 대형 업체들은 단가가 짜서 그런지 빠졌습니다. 

2026년 3월 비행 중인 미 주방위공군 MQ-9 리퍼 무인항공체계. 미 주방위공군 사진, 스티븐 루크 기술하사

단독 보도

미 공군, 신형 MMA 드론 사업 경쟁업체 7곳 선정

2026년 9월 30일 | 스티븐 로지

미 공군과 미 국방부 산하 국방혁신단(DIU)이 MQ-9A 리퍼를 대체할 저비용 반자율 드론 개발 경쟁에 초청될 업체를 7곳으로 압축했다고 복수의 소식통이 Air & Space Forces Magazine에 확인했다.

안두릴, 카오스 인더스트리스, 제너럴 아토믹스 에어로노티컬 시스템스, 그리드 에어로, 오토 에어로스페이스, 실드 AI, 스웜 에어로가 모두 대량 모듈형 항공기(Massed Modular Aircraft, MMA) 후보 개발을 계속할 업체로 선정됐다. 이들 업체는 9월 30일 통보를 받았다.

미 공군과 DIU는 질의에 즉각 답하지 않았다. 각 회사 대변인들도 논평을 거부하거나 질의에 답하지 않았다. 몇 개 업체가 제안서를 제출했는지, 따라서 몇 곳이 경쟁에서 탈락했는지는 분명하지 않다.

한 업계 소식통은 이제 각 회사가 MMA 시제기를 제작하기 위한 제안서를 제출하게 될 것이라고 말했다.

트로이 마인크 미 공군장관은 9월 14일 AFA의 Air, Space & Cyber Conference에서 공군이 2032년까지 MMA 500대를 전력화하기를 원한다고 밝혔다.

상업 및 비전통적 공급업체를 활용하기 위해 만들어진 획득조직인 DIU는 7월 7일 MQ-9의 대표적 임무인 지속적인 정보·감시·정찰 및 타격을 수행할 수 있는 저가의 소모성 드론 제안서를 요청했다. 미 공군은 곧 DIU와 함께 이 개념을 추진하고 있다고 확인했다.

이 사업 공고는 올해 초 이란을 상대로 한 작전에서 MQ-9 수십 대를 잃은 뒤 나왔다. 당시 DIU는 군이 대당 3,000만 달러 이상인 “고급” 항공기에 의존하는 방식은 “점점 더 저렴해지는 대공능력으로 구성된 다층 방어망을 사용하는 적을 상대로 지속 가능하지 않게 됐다”고 밝혔다.

손실된 MQ-9A 자체의 가격은 그 정도로 높지 않았지만, 제너럴 아토믹스는 더 이상 이 모델을 생산하지 않으며 대신 더 대형인 MQ-9B를 제안하고 있다. MQ-9B는 탑재장비 구성에 따라 가격이 3,000만 달러에 근접하거나 이를 넘을 수 있다.

MMA는 이보다 더 낮은 가격대를 목표로 하고 있다. DIU의 사업 공고는 여러 대가 격추되더라도 적을 압도할 만큼 큰 편대로 함께 비행할 수 있으면서, 동시에 적으로 하여금 귀중한 대공탄약을 소모하게 만들 수 있는 드론을 요구했다. 공군은 손실된 항공기를 예산을 무너뜨리지 않는 수준에서 감당 가능하게 대체할 수 있어야 한다.

공군 수뇌부는 9월 3일 브리핑에서 MMA 기체 한 대당 약 1,000만 달러에 센서나 기타 능력의 비용이 추가될 것으로 예상한다고 밝혔다. 당시 공군의 신임 현대화책임자인 크리스토퍼 니에미 중장은 이란에서의 손실 이후 마인크 장관이 MMA 전력화 일정을 앞당기도록 압박했다고 말했다. DIU 군사 부책임자인 조지프 쿤켈 소장은 기자들에게 미 국방부가 계약 체결 후 1년 안에 시제기를 보고 싶어 하며, 이르면 2029년부터 대규모 전력화를 원한다고 말했다.

여름의 사업 공고에 대응해 업계는 빠르게 각자의 개념을 제시했다. 제너럴 아토믹스는 ‘와일드파이어’라는 신형 드론을 제안했다. 이 기체는 장거리 대함미사일(LRASM) 최소 2발, 합동타격미사일(JSM) 4발, 또는 이와 유사한 중량급 원거리 무장 조합을 탑재할 수 있다.

GA-ASI의 와일드파이어는 확장 가능하고 소모 가능한 무인항공체계로, 강력한 장거리 정밀타격무장을 운용해 공중전장에서 막강한 화력을 제공할 수 있다. 개념도

캘리포니아의 스타트업 스웜 에어로는 ‘가메라’라는 이름의 신형 그룹 5 드론을 제안했으며, Air, Space & Cyber Conference에서 실물 크기 모형을 공개했다.

스웜 에어로의 가메라 드론 모형. 사진: 스웜 에어로 제공

Air Force Names 7 to Vie for New MMA Drone Program

A U.S. Air National Guard MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aircraft system flies in March 2026. U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Stephen Luke

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Exclusive Story

Air Force Names 7 to Vie for New MMA Drone Program

Sept. 30, 2026 | By Stephen Losey

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The Air Force and the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit have narrowed the field to seven companies which will be invited to compete to develop low-cost, semi-autonomous drones to succeed the MQ-9A Reaper, multiple sources confirmed to Air & Space Forces Magazine.

Anduril, Chaos Industries, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Grid Aero, Otto Aerospace, Shield AI, and Swarm Aero all made the cut to continue to develop their candidates for the Massed Modular Aircraft. The companies got the word Sept. 30.

The Air Force and DIU did not immediately respond to queries. Spokespeople from each of the companies either declined to comment or did not respond to queries. It is unclear how many companies submitted proposals, and therefore how many firms were cut from the competition.

An industry source said each company will now submit a proposal to build a prototype MMA.

The Air Force wants to field 500 MMAs by 2032, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said Sept. 14 at AFA’s Air, Space & Cyber Conference. 

DIU—an acquisition office created to tap into commercial and non-traditional suppliers—sought on July 7 proposals for cheap, attritable drones that could take on the MQ-9’s trademark missions of persistent intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and strike. The Air Force soon confirmed it was working with DIU on the concept.

The solicitation followed the loss of dozens of MQ-9s in operations against Iran earlier this year. DIU said at the time that the military’s reliance on “exquisite” aircraft that cost $30 million or more per tail has become “unsustainable against adversaries utilizing layered defenses enabled by increasingly low-cost antiaircraft capabilities.”

The MQ-9As that were lost did not cost that much, but General Atomics no longer makes that model and instead is offering a larger MQ-9B that can approach or exceed the $30 million level, depending on how it is equipped.

MMA is aiming for a lower price point. DIU’s solicitation sought drones that could fly together in groups large enough to overwhelm an enemy, even if several were shot down, while also forcing the enemy to expend precious anti-aircraft munitions. The Air Force must be able to affordably replace aircraft lost without busting the budget. 

Air Force leaders said in a Sept. 3 briefing that they expect to pay about $10 million per MMA airframe, plus whatever sensors or other capabilities are added to it. During that briefing, Lt. Gen. Christopher Niemi, the Air Force’s new chief modernization officer, said Secretary Meink pushed to accelerate the MMA fielding schedule in the wake of the Iran losses. Maj. Gen. Joseph Kunkel, DIU’s military deputy, told reporters that the Pentagon wants to see a prototype within a year of issuing a contract, and field it at scale as soon as 2029.

Responding to the summer solicitation, industry rapidly moved to pitch their concepts. General Atomics pitched a new drone called Wildfire that could carry at least two Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles, four Joint Strike Missiles, or a similar combination of heavy stand-off weapons.

GA-ASI’s Wildfire is a scalable, attritable UAS able to deploy ultra-powerful long-range precision strike weapons for formidable firepower in the aerial battlespace. (Artist’s rendering)

Swarm Aero, a California startup, proposed a new Group 5 drone dubbed Gamera, and displayed a full-scale model at the Air, Space & Cyber conference.

A model of Swarm Aero’s Gamera drone. Courtesy of Swarm Aero

A U.S. Air National Guard MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aircraft system flies in March 2026. U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Stephen Luke

Expand Photo

Exclusive Story

Air Force Names 7 to Vie for New MMA Drone Program

Sept. 30, 2026 | By Stephen Losey

•  
•  
•  
•  
•  

Share Article

The Air Force and the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit have narrowed the field to seven companies which will be invited to compete to develop low-cost, semi-autonomous drones to succeed the MQ-9A Reaper, multiple sources confirmed to Air & Space Forces Magazine.

Anduril, Chaos Industries, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Grid Aero, Otto Aerospace, Shield AI, and Swarm Aero all made the cut to continue to develop their candidates for the Massed Modular Aircraft. The companies got the word Sept. 30.

The Air Force and DIU did not immediately respond to queries. Spokespeople from each of the companies either declined to comment or did not respond to queries. It is unclear how many companies submitted proposals, and therefore how many firms were cut from the competition.

An industry source said each company will now submit a proposal to build a prototype MMA.

The Air Force wants to field 500 MMAs by 2032, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said Sept. 14 at AFA’s Air, Space & Cyber Conference. 

DIU—an acquisition office created to tap into commercial and non-traditional suppliers—sought on July 7 proposals for cheap, attritable drones that could take on the MQ-9’s trademark missions of persistent intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and strike. The Air Force soon confirmed it was working with DIU on the concept.

The solicitation followed the loss of dozens of MQ-9s in operations against Iran earlier this year. DIU said at the time that the military’s reliance on “exquisite” aircraft that cost $30 million or more per tail has become “unsustainable against adversaries utilizing layered defenses enabled by increasingly low-cost antiaircraft capabilities.”

The MQ-9As that were lost did not cost that much, but General Atomics no longer makes that model and instead is offering a larger MQ-9B that can approach or exceed the $30 million level, depending on how it is equipped.

MMA is aiming for a lower price point. DIU’s solicitation sought drones that could fly together in groups large enough to overwhelm an enemy, even if several were shot down, while also forcing the enemy to expend precious anti-aircraft munitions. The Air Force must be able to affordably replace aircraft lost without busting the budget. 

Air Force leaders said in a Sept. 3 briefing that they expect to pay about $10 million per MMA airframe, plus whatever sensors or other capabilities are added to it. During that briefing, Lt. Gen. Christopher Niemi, the Air Force’s new chief modernization officer, said Secretary Meink pushed to accelerate the MMA fielding schedule in the wake of the Iran losses. Maj. Gen. Joseph Kunkel, DIU’s military deputy, told reporters that the Pentagon wants to see a prototype within a year of issuing a contract, and field it at scale as soon as 2029.

Responding to the summer solicitation, industry rapidly moved to pitch their concepts. General Atomics pitched a new drone called Wildfire that could carry at least two Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles, four Joint Strike Missiles, or a similar combination of heavy stand-off weapons.

GA-ASI’s Wildfire is a scalable, attritable UAS able to deploy ultra-powerful long-range precision strike weapons for formidable firepower in the aerial battlespace. (Artist’s rendering)

Swarm Aero, a California startup, proposed a new Group 5 drone dubbed Gamera, and displayed a full-scale model at the Air, Space & Cyber conference.

A model of Swarm Aero’s Gamera drone. Courtesy of Swarm Aero

A U.S. Air National Guard MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aircraft system flies in March 2026. U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Stephen Luke

Expand Photo

Exclusive Story

Air Force Names 7 to Vie for New MMA Drone Program

Sept. 30, 2026 | By Stephen Losey

•  
•  
•  
•  
•  

Share Article

The Air Force and the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit have narrowed the field to seven companies which will be invited to compete to develop low-cost, semi-autonomous drones to succeed the MQ-9A Reaper, multiple sources confirmed to Air & Space Forces Magazine.

Anduril, Chaos Industries, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Grid Aero, Otto Aerospace, Shield AI, and Swarm Aero all made the cut to continue to develop their candidates for the Massed Modular Aircraft. The companies got the word Sept. 30.

The Air Force and DIU did not immediately respond to queries. Spokespeople from each of the companies either declined to comment or did not respond to queries. It is unclear how many companies submitted proposals, and therefore how many firms were cut from the competition.

An industry source said each company will now submit a proposal to build a prototype MMA.

The Air Force wants to field 500 MMAs by 2032, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said Sept. 14 at AFA’s Air, Space & Cyber Conference. 

DIU—an acquisition office created to tap into commercial and non-traditional suppliers—sought on July 7 proposals for cheap, attritable drones that could take on the MQ-9’s trademark missions of persistent intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and strike. The Air Force soon confirmed it was working with DIU on the concept.

The solicitation followed the loss of dozens of MQ-9s in operations against Iran earlier this year. DIU said at the time that the military’s reliance on “exquisite” aircraft that cost $30 million or more per tail has become “unsustainable against adversaries utilizing layered defenses enabled by increasingly low-cost antiaircraft capabilities.”

The MQ-9As that were lost did not cost that much, but General Atomics no longer makes that model and instead is offering a larger MQ-9B that can approach or exceed the $30 million level, depending on how it is equipped.

MMA is aiming for a lower price point. DIU’s solicitation sought drones that could fly together in groups large enough to overwhelm an enemy, even if several were shot down, while also forcing the enemy to expend precious anti-aircraft munitions. The Air Force must be able to affordably replace aircraft lost without busting the budget. 

Air Force leaders said in a Sept. 3 briefing that they expect to pay about $10 million per MMA airframe, plus whatever sensors or other capabilities are added to it. During that briefing, Lt. Gen. Christopher Niemi, the Air Force’s new chief modernization officer, said Secretary Meink pushed to accelerate the MMA fielding schedule in the wake of the Iran losses. Maj. Gen. Joseph Kunkel, DIU’s military deputy, told reporters that the Pentagon wants to see a prototype within a year of issuing a contract, and field it at scale as soon as 2029.

Responding to the summer solicitation, industry rapidly moved to pitch their concepts. General Atomics pitched a new drone called Wildfire that could carry at least two Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles, four Joint Strike Missiles, or a similar combination of heavy stand-off weapons.

GA-ASI’s Wildfire is a scalable, attritable UAS able to deploy ultra-powerful long-range precision strike weapons for formidable firepower in the aerial battlespace. (Artist’s rendering)

Swarm Aero, a California startup, proposed a new Group 5 drone dubbed Gamera, and displayed a full-scale model at the Air, Space & Cyber conference.

A model of Swarm Aero’s Gamera drone. Courtesy of Swarm Aero

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32년까지 최소 CCA 500, MMA 500 확보가 목표인 것이 묘하게 지난번 미첼연구소의 워게임이 생각나는 숫자네요.