Amentum has landed a major US Air Force contract to modernize the MQ-9 Reaper, further enhancing the operational strength of America’s unmanned aerial fleet.
Awarded through the Air Combat Command’s Remotely Piloted Aircraft Maintenance Support IDIQ, the contract has a ceiling value of $995 million over a five-year period.
The company will deliver specialized staff, weapons-loading solutions, and ground support capabilities to improve MQ-9 mission readiness across multiple US and international operating sites.
Key upgrades under the program include Satellite Launch and Recovery, next-generation sensors, and optimized ground control systems to ensure the MQ-9 remains effective in increasingly complex mission environments.
This award is part of a larger Air Force effort to advance its unmanned systems. Recent initiatives include upgrading the RQ-4 Global Hawk with new sensors and autonomous planning tools, while Northrop Grumman continues to enhance MQ-9 sensor packages and endurance.
At the same time, Boeing is developing collaborative combat aircraft programs that pair AI-enabled drones with manned platforms, and Kratos Defense is modernizing smaller Group 3 and Group 4 UAS for improved agility and interoperability.
The Air Force is also experimenting with advanced autonomy and data-sharing technologies designed to enable unmanned aircraft to operate more effectively in contested and high-threat environments.
