Defense
USAF Scrambles for Scraps: MQ-9 Reaper Shortage After Epic Fury Losses
The U.S. Air Force is frantically hunting for any remaining out-of-production MQ-9 Reapers after taking “epic” numbers of losses in combat against Iran and Houthi forces. This unprecedented shortfall is already distorting the global used military drone market—commercial operators flying high-capability platforms for Part 107 BVLOS or large-scale RTK surveying should watch closely. The implications for airspace availability, export controls on heavy UAS, and the price of second-hand airframes are immediate and severe.
