Amentum has been awarded a significant US Air Force contract to upgrade the MQ-9 Reaper fleet, strengthening the capabilities of one of America’s most widely used unmanned aerial systems.
Issued under the Remotely Piloted Aircraft Maintenance Support IDIQ by Air Combat Command, the contract is valued at up to $995 million over five years.
Under the program, Amentum will supply skilled personnel, weapons loading expertise, and aerospace ground support to boost MQ-9 readiness at various domestic and overseas locations.
The modernization effort will prioritize enhancements such as Satellite Launch and Recovery, upgraded sensors, and more efficient ground control operations to maintain the MQ-9’s performance in demanding environments.
Amentum’s work aligns with broader USAF initiatives to evolve its unmanned fleet. The Air Force has been expanding the RQ-4 Global Hawk program with improved sensors and autonomous mission-planning tools, while Northrop Grumman continues upgrading MQ-9 sensor payloads and endurance capabilities.
Other efforts include Boeing’s development of AI-enabled unmanned wingmen to operate alongside manned fighters and Kratos Defense’s upgrades to Group 3 and Group 4 UAS for rapid deployment and improved battlefield integration.
The service is also testing advanced autonomous mission planning and enhanced data-sharing frameworks to ensure unmanned aircraft can function effectively in more complex and contested airspace.
