- Swarm Aero unveils the Gamera drone, aimed at replacing the MQ-9A Reaper.
- Gamera is designed with modular payloads suited to long-range operations.
- The drone can be managed by a single operator controlling up to 35 aircraft.
- Gamera will face competition from major defense contractors.
Swarm Aero has unveiled a new long-range drone intended for the U.S. Air Force's competition to replace the MQ-9A Reaper. The company showed a full-scale model of its Gamera aircraft on the opening day of the Air, Space & Cyber Conference, with the drone designed around long endurance, modular payloads and swarm operations. The California-based startup said Gamera will have a 72-foot wingspan and an unrefueled range of 9,000 nautical miles (about 10,357 miles).
Gamera drone design features
The aircraft is being developed for the Pentagon's Modular Mass-Architectured Aircraft (MMA) program, which seeks a lower-cost, more loss-tolerant platform suited to long-range intelligence and strike missions.
Gamera's twin-fuselage design sets it apart from the MQ-9A's single central fuselage. Its layout resembles the twin-tail arrangement used on Israel Aerospace Industries' Heron TP, while its connected tail structure is also reminiscent of North American Rockwell's OV-10 Bronco. The main difference lies in the placement of the engine. Gamera mounts a Honeywell TPE331 turboprop in a nacelle between the two fuselages, above the wing. Its propeller uses a tractor configuration, with the propeller positioned in front of the engine.
This unusual arrangement also shapes the gear design, with Gamera using four landing units housed inside the two fuselages, allowing weapons to be carried beneath the central area without interfering with a nose wheel.
Swarm said Gamera will be equipped with seven hardpoints for weapons and other mission equipment. The MMA program requires an aircraft capable of carrying at least 2,800 pounds of payload, including weapons such as the AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile. The aircraft is designed with modular hardware and avionics, allowing payloads and systems to be changed according to mission needs. Its range and payload can also be adjusted to mission requirements. Swarm has been developing Gamera since 2022 and is working on manufacturing approaches that support high-rate production.
The company said automated composite manufacturing and modular avionics contribute to lower production costs.
Automation and swarm operation advantages
Swarm also designed Gamera with autonomous swarm operations in mind. Its control architecture is intended to allow a single operator to manage up to 35 aircraft simultaneously. The company developed an autonomy system called Legion and was selected for a Defense Innovation Unit effort under the Replicator program focused on command and control for drone swarms. The approach aims to make the practical operation of large numbers of long-range aircraft feasible. Swarm has also received funding from the Air Force Research Laboratory for the manufacturing and development of large drones.
Market competition and future plans
Gamera is entering the race to replace the Reaper. The MMA program seeks aircraft priced well below the MQ-9A, which can run up to $50 million per unit depending on configuration. Air Force officials have set a target price of around $10 million per aircraft and have accelerated efforts to field the new platform. Swarm will face competition from major defense contractors. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, which builds the MQ-9 family, has already unveiled its own MMA contender, called Wildfire.
The company plans to conduct Gamera's first flight later next year. The company also sees potential civilian applications for the aircraft, including logistics and firefighting, though the U.S. military remains its primary target market.
Impact of the new drone on the military market
The unveiling of the Gamera drone marks an important advance in drone technology for the U.S. military, particularly in terms of cost efficiency and operational flexibility. As the armed forces seek to replace the aging MQ-9A Reaper, Gamera's modular design and autonomous swarm capabilities could change how drones are employed. This can not only improve combat effectiveness but also reduce production costs, further promoting drone applications across military and civilian markets. However, Swarm Aero faces intense competition from major defense contractors, which will affect its market share and future development.