Senate appropriators have joined a chorus of lawmakers who are rejecting the Air Force's proposal to shut down the MQ-9 Reaper acquisition program early and want to keep the production line open while also looking to accelerate development of low-cost, attritable aircraft that could transform future drone operations. Although the Air Force previously indicated it planned to buy dozens more MQ-9s, the service's fiscal year 2021 budget request proposed ending new purchases after FY-20. The unexpected move worried lawmakers about...
