BLUF
The US Air Force’s heavy MQ-9 Reaper losses highlight the vulnerability of expensive multirole drones against modern air defences. The article argues future drone warfare should favour networks of smaller, specialised drones that are cost effective.Learning Outcomes
- Analyse the operational challenges facing high-value multirole drones, including the impact of increasing MQ-9 Reaper losses on military readiness, survivability, and force effectiveness.
- Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of multirole, modular, and disaggregated drone architectures in the context of modern contested air environments and evolving air defence threats.
- Assess how emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and networked drone operations could shape future military drone capabilities, resilience, and cost-effectiveness.
