2026年2月28日，美国与以色列对伊朗发动了联合攻击。在此次行动中，美军损失了数十架 RQ-180（或类似型号）Reaper 系列无人机，总价值超过 10 亿美元 [1]。尽管空军参谋长肯尼思·威尔斯巴赫曾称 Reaper 是空军军械库中的“最有价值球员”[1]，但此次大规模损失暴露了当前昂贵机型在面对低成本防空系统时的脆弱性。
鉴于单机成本超过 3000 万美元的现有无人机和载人飞机被五角大楼视为“不可持续”，美军正寻求通过数量优势来压倒敌方防御体系 [1]。为此，国防创新局（Defense Innovation Unit）已发布征集令，专门寻找能够承受高损耗率的廉价替代方案 [1]。新战略的核心在于部署大量具有成本效益的无人机，以弥补昂贵资产在对抗伊朗等对手时的不足 [1]。
Following a joint U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran that began on February 28, 2026 [1], the United States military lost dozens of RQ-4 Global Hawk and MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) valued at more than $1 billion [1]. Air Force Chief of Staff Kenneth Wilsbach described the Reaper as a "most valuable player" in the service's arsenal prior to these losses [1]. Confronted with high unit costs exceeding $30 million for current drones and manned aircraft, which officials deem unsustainable against low-cost enemy air defenses [1], the Pentagon is now seeking procurement of large quantities of inexpensive hunter-killer drones [1]. The Defense Innovation Unit has issued a solicitation specifically looking for cost-effective drone solutions to address this vulnerability [1]. This new strategy aims to overwhelm adversary air defense systems through sheer volume and absorb high attrition rates, rather than relying on expensive platforms that are easily destroyed by cheap defenses [1].