MQ-Next

The MQ-Next program is a U.S. Air Force initiative to develop a successor to the MQ-9 Reaper drone, incorporating stealth features like low observability, reduced thermal and acoustic signatures, modular payloads for ISR, electronic warfare, and precision strike missions, and advanced autonomy including AI for sensor fusion and swarm operations. It remains in the research and development phase, with General Atomics and Northrop Grumman developing concepts such as hybrid-electric engines and stealthy designs to enhance survivability in contested environments against near-peer threats like China's PLAAF; no prototypes have been finalized as of early 2026. Strategically, MQ-Next aims to provide versatile, cost-efficient unmanned systems for high-threat airspace, improving intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike capabilities while reducing reliance on human control, potentially enabling rapid global deployment and role-switching.