Startup Swarm Aero debuted the Gamera unmanned aircraft at the Air and Space Forces Association conference. The company positions the turboprop drone as a low-cost alternative to the MQ-9A Reaper.
The Gamera features a unique dual-fuselage design. It is capable of flying 9,000 nautical miles without refueling. The platform carries heavy munitions including the Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile and Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range.
Executives prioritized range and payload capacity by utilizing a simple, non-stealthy design. Swarm Aero is pitching the aircraft for the Pentagon’s Massed Modular Aircraft program. This entry introduces a new competitor into the high-endurance drone market, potentially impacting future defense spending.