MQ-9 Reapers will keep their slew of air-to-surface weapons, but the Air Force is holding off on adding air-to-air missiles to the drone's arsenal for now, the service's program executive officer for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and special operations forces said. The Air Force hasn't vetted the MQ-9's air-to-air combat skills since a 2017 test that proved the armed unmanned aircraft could shoot down other small drones, said Col. Dale White in a June 19 interview here. He indicated the concept has been pushed to the back burner as Air Combat Command pursues other ideas needed to meet the National Defense Strategy's focus on more advanced technologies.
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