Swarm Aero Introduces Gamera Drone with 10,357-Mile Range for U.S. Air Force Replacement
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- InterestingEngineering.com
Swarm Aero has launched its Gamera drone, a long-range uncrewed aircraft aimed at replacing the MQ-9A Reaper for the U.S. Air Force. The Gamera features a 72-foot wingspan and an impressive unrefueled range of up to 10,357 miles, designed for the Pentagon's Massed Modular Aircraft program, which seeks cost-effective solutions for intelligence and strike missions.
This development is significant as it addresses the need for a lower-cost, attrition-tolerant aircraft, with the Gamera capable of carrying at least 2,800 pounds of payload, including advanced weaponry. Its innovative design includes two parallel fuselages and a unique engine placement, enhancing its operational capabilities while allowing for modular payload adjustments as mission requirements evolve.
Looking ahead, Swarm Aero's Gamera is positioned to revolutionize drone operations with its autonomous swarm capabilities, allowing a single operator to control multiple aircraft. The company has been developing this technology since 2022 and aims to meet the Air Force's target price of approximately $10 million per aircraft, significantly lower than the MQ-9A's cost, which can reach $50 million depending on configuration.
Original report
US firm unveils new 72-foot drone with 10,357-mile range to replace aging Reaper fleet
InterestingEngineering.com · Sujita SinhaThis briefing is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting and is provided for industry information and news discovery. The original report and source publication are credited and linked where applicable. RobotToday does not claim ownership of third-party source material.
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