USAF outlines 'MQ-9 Next' modular, attritable Reaper successor concept

The post describes USAF requirements work for an MQ-9 Reaper replacement emphasizing modular hardware/software (open architecture, government-controlled software) and an 'attritable' low-cost design intended for higher-risk contested environments. While not a fielded battlefield system yet, it signals a doctrinal/requirements shift toward mass-producible, rapidly reconfigurable UAVs with swappable ISR/strike/fuel payloads and faster upgrade cycles.