General Atomics Aeronautical Systems

Wildfire

In Development

A clean-sheet medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aircraft GA-ASI unveiled in August 2026 as its answer to whatever comes after the MQ-9 Reaper. No images or detailed specifications have been released. Spokesman C. Mark Brinkley said Wildfire meets every item on the Pentagon's Massed Modular Aircraft wish list and can be delivered years earlier than the current schedule, while also saying the design is not dependent on that program. After Iran combat losses reached about 45 Reapers, Secretary Troy Meink on September 14, 2026 set MMA inventory goals of 100 aircraft in 2029 and 500 by 2032 at about $10 million a copy.

Latest update Sep 15, 2026

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Current status

Design unveiled August 20, 2026. MMA vendor selection targeted by the end of 2026. Air Force inventory goals are now 100 in 2029 and 500 by 2032. No flight article announced.

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Specifications2

Program
Pitched at DIU Massed Modular Aircraft

company says Wildfire is not dependent on that award

Air Force Target Price

About $10M per aircraft after the September 2026 acceleration (service target, not a GA-ASI quote)

Announced next steps from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems that mention Wildfire.

  1. End of 2026

    Clear the Massed Modular Aircraft down-select with Wildfire

    The Defense Innovation Unit-led Massed Modular Aircraft competition, which Wildfire entered on August 20, 2026, drew what Air Force officials described as a very robust industry response from both traditional primes and newer entrants, including Swarm Aero's Gamera unveil on September 14. Air Force officials still plan to select MMA vendors by the end of 2026, the gate that decides whether Wildfire becomes GA-ASI's actual MQ-9 successor program rather than a design unveiling. After combat losses in operations against Iran reached at least 45 Reapers, Secretary Troy Meink on September 14, 2026 set inventory goals of 100 MMA aircraft in 2029 and 500 by 2032 at about $10 million a copy, replacing the earlier public figures of at least 180 aircraft and 20 mission-ready tails by fiscal 2031.

  1. Air Force speeds up MQ-9 Reaper replacement after Iran losses

    The Air Force is accelerating its Massed Modular Aircraft program to field an MQ-9 Reaper successor after combat losses in operations against Iran reached at least 45 aircraft, roughly a quarter of the fleet, DefenseScoop and other outlets reported September 4, 2026. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink directed the acceleration, officials are targeting a unit cost near $10 million versus $30-50 million for the MQ-9A, and the fiscal 2031 goal of 20 mission-ready successor aircraft could be pulled forward by about two years. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, the Reaper's maker, entered its own Wildfire design into the same Massed Modular Aircraft competition in August.

    DefenseScoop The War Zone

  2. General Atomics unveils Wildfire drone for MQ-9 succession

    General Atomics Aeronautical Systems unveiled its Wildfire unmanned aircraft design on August 20, entering it into the Pentagon's Massed Modular Aircraft competition to replace the MQ-9 Reaper. The clean-sheet design targets a 10,000-nautical-mile ferry range, the ability to carry up to four AGM-158C long-range anti-ship missiles, and mass semi-autonomous swarming of up to 100 aircraft at a unit cost under 30 million dollars, following heavy Reaper losses reportedly including at least 45 aircraft during the Iran conflict.

    The War Zone Air & Space Forces Magazine

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