General Atomics on Tuesday was awarded almost $400 million to build 36 more MQ-9 Reapers for the Air Force. The firm-fixed-price contract covers the aircraft in the Fiscal 2016 configuration, with work expected to last until August 2020, according to a Pentagon announcement. The Air Force announced in 2015 it was looking to buy 75 more Reapers to build up its remotely piloted aircraft force and address a shortfall both in manning and mission capacity. The service is standing up a new group and mission control element at Shaw AFB, S.C., along with possibly opening another operating base for an MQ-9 wing with 24 aircraft.
If the Air Force is in line for a big budget bump from President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget in 2027, the head of Air Combat Command said he would make aircraft spare parts his top spending priority—but cautioned that more money to buy parts won’t equal a…
