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After losing more than a quarter of the U.S. fleet of General Atomics-built MQ-9 Reapers in the ongoing conflict with Iran, the U.S. Air Force is rushing to acquire a smaller, cheaper aircraft for intelligence and reconnaissance, turning to a hybrid-electric drone produced by a relatively unknown Polish manufacturer.
MQ-9s are a centerpiece of the Pentagon’s combat strategy in Iran and many other battlefields. Air Force Chief of Staff Kenneth Wilsbach, speaking at the 2026 Air, Space and Cyber conference on Sept. 14, identified the drone as the “Most Valuable Player” of the service’s ongoing operations in the Middle East, during which the uncrewed aircraft’s range and loiter capabilities have helped to locate drone and missile launchers inside Iran.
But that mission, like many others the MQ-9 is asked to perform, comes with direct exposure to ground fire, missile fire and communications failures that have knocked dozens of Reapers out of action. At $30 million to $34 million per aircraft, the fleet’s losses are unsustainable — particularly in the short-term for immediate needs in the Middle East — forcing the Pentagon to reconsider its deployment strategy.
As a near-term solution, the Air Force is fast-tracking the procurement of a more affordable uncrewed aircraft, known as the Dingo, that is orders of magnitude smaller, lighter and more agile than the Reaper, according to a redacted Air Force justification and approval document reviewed by The Air Current.
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