USAF determining next steps away from 'MQ-Next' direct replacement

摘要

With the Air Force moving away from seeking a direct replacement follow-on to the MQ-9, officials are assessing their next steps as they determine how a multirole unmanned aerial system could integrate with the broader force design going forward, a service spokesman said. Air Force Materiel Command spokesman Brian Brackens told Inside Defense the service is still working through the more than 60 responses it received to a second request for information surrounding an expanded MQ-9 replacement search from this past spring, a review that comes as officials work to upgrade the existing fleet. Though the Air Force has released two requests for information surrounding a potential Reaper follow-on, officials-including Col. William Rogers, the program executive officer for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and special operations forces - have said they remain in the market research stage. "We're really providing information at this point up to Air Force Futures and their staff on helping them try to decide how the future medium altitude UAS capability could fit into the overall force design for the Air Force," he told reporters during a media panel earlier this month. "So, at this point, the short answer is there's no direct replacement termed MQ-Next."