CHANTILLY, Va. – Amentum, a leading global engineering and modernization contractor, has been awarded a significant contract by the U.S. Air Force Air Combat Command to maintain and enhance the service’s MQ-9 Reaper fleet. The Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Maintenance Support contract carries a maximum potential value of $995 million over a five-year ordering period.
This Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract underscores the enduring operational importance of the MQ-9 Reaper, a versatile unmanned aerial system (UAS) critical for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike missions. Amentum will deploy specialized personnel, advanced weapons loading strategies, and tailored aerospace ground equipment solutions at various U.S. and international locations. The work is designed to bolster the combat readiness and training capabilities of Reaper units, ensuring the platform remains mission-ready in dynamic global theaters.
Company leadership highlighted their deep-rooted expertise in unmanned systems as a key differentiator. “Amentum’s unmanned aerial solutions are designed to ensure the MQ-9 Reaper remains a formidable force,” said Mark Walter, president of Amentum’s Engineering and Technology business. He pointed to the company’s proven experience with MQ-9-specific operational frameworks, such as Satellite Launch and Recovery (SLR), which allows for extended, beyond-line-of-sight operations, as a source of innovative versatility for the Air Force.
This institutional knowledge stretches back decades. “Our legacy dates back to early systems like the MQ-1 Predator and the RQ-4 Global Hawk,” noted Mark Evans, Amentum senior vice president of Modernization and Training. “That history has provided Amentum with deep technical insights and operational proficiency in MQ-9 systems worldwide, positioning us uniquely to enhance the platform’s operational excellence.”
The MQ-9 Reaper, equipped with sophisticated sensors, precision weaponry, and secure satellite communications, is a cornerstone of modern U.S. military strategy. Sustaining and modernizing such unmanned aerial systems is viewed as essential for maintaining a technological and tactical edge. This contract allows the Air Force to leverage Amentum’s integrated support model to ensure the Reaper fleet continues to meet evolving mission demands with enhanced efficiency and capability for years to come.
