Loitering Munitions

Latest in Loitering Munitions

U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Nov. 23, 2025) Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS) drones are positioned on the tarmac at a base in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) operating area, Nov. 23. The LUCAS platforms are part of a one-way attack drone squadron CENTCOM recently deployed to the Middle East to strengthen regional security and deterrence. (Courtesy Photo)
Loitering Munitions

American Shahed-136 Clones Sent To Middle East Have Satellite Datalinks, Swarming Capabilities

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted Yesterday

Northrop Grumman has been doing detailed design work that lays a path to air-launching its Lumberjack loitering one-way attack drone from Kratos' stealthy XQ-58 Valkyrie uncrewed aircraft.
Loitering Munitions

Lumberjack Jet-Powered Modular Munition Eyed As Armament For XQ-58 Valkyrie Drones

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Oct 9, 2025

Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems have teamed up to develop a range of uncrewed air systems (UAS), all based on a common design, for which concept artwork has now been presented. The effort sees two of the world’s biggest defense companies joining forces, and entering a growing field of less expensive and more expendable drones and munitions.
Loitering Munitions

Lockheed Martin Joins Forces With BAE Systems On New Ultra-Adaptable Drone

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 9, 2025

U.S. special operations Long Endurance Aircraft (LEA) surveillance drones, which are based on a popular civilian powered glider design, are set to gain the ability to launch smaller uncrewed aerial systems.
Loitering Munitions

Super Quiet Special Operations Drones Being Modified To Launch Smaller Drones

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 11, 2025

The Pentagon has announced sweeping new changes intended to surge the fielding of small drones, including weaponized types, across the entire U.S. military.
Loitering Munitions

Pentagon Just Made A Massive, Long Overdue Shift To Arm Its Troops With Thousands Of Drones

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jul 11, 2025

Stealthy Special Operations Speedboats Are Getting Kamikaze Drone Launchers
Loitering Munitions

Stealthy Special Operations Speedboats Are Getting Kamikaze Drone Launchers

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on May 7, 2025

AeroVironment has rolled out a new long-range loitering one-way attack drone called Red Dragon that the company designed to operate with very "limited user interaction."
Loitering Munitions

Red Dragon Highly-Autonomous One-Way Attack Drone Unveiled

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on May 6, 2025

Future versions of the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) short-range ballistic missile for the U.S. Army could carry Coyote drones or Hatchet miniature glide bombs, according to Lockheed Martin.
Loitering Munitions

PrSM Ballistic Missiles Loaded With Coyote Drones, Hatchet Mini Smart Bombs Eyed By Army

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 1, 2025

Lumberjack strike munition from Northrop Grumman
Loitering Munitions

Lumberjack Jet-Powered One-Way Attack Munition Can Drop Its Own Precision Bomblets (Updated)

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Apr 30, 2025

Every Marine A Drone Pilot: Individual Lethality To Go From Meters To Kilometers
Loitering Munitions

Every Marine A Drone Pilot: Individual Lethality To Go From Meters To Kilometers

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 9, 2025

Roadrunner and coyote deployed on US Destroyer
Loitering Munitions

Coyote, Roadrunner Loitering Drone Interceptors To Arm U.S. Navy Destroyers

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 28, 2025

Two Ukrainian firms, both partnered with American companies, are among those now set to demonstrate long-range one-way drones to the U.S. military as part of a project called Artemis.
Loitering Munitions

Ukrainian Long-Range Attack Drones To Be Tested By U.S. Military

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Mar 14, 2025

Ukraine has claimed that it’s successfully used uncrewed surface vessels (USV), better known as drone boats, to launch aerial drones against Russian targets for the first time. According to Ukrainian authorities, the first-person view (FPV) drones were employed in combat during strikes on Russian ground-based air defense systems. This is the latest development in Ukraine’s Black Sea drone war, which is seeing increasingly innovative use of uncrewed systems, including adapted air-to-air missiles launched from USVs against Russian aircraft.
Loitering Munitions

Ukraine Claims Its Drone Boats Are Now Launching Kamikaze FPV Drones At Russian Shore Targets

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jan 7, 2025

German firm Helsing says production of its HX-2 kamikaze drone, thousands of which are expected to be sent to Ukraine, is underway.
Loitering Munitions

AI-Enabled HX-2 Kamikaze Drones Now In Production For Ukraine

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 2, 2024

One especially interesting detail about the Phoenix Ghost family of kamikaze drones has now emerged: the different types can be configured to launch attacks straight down while passing overhead rather than having to careen into their targets and detonate.
Loitering Munitions

Warheads In Phoenix Ghost Kamikaze Drones Blast Straight Down Like Air Burst Artillery Rounds

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 27, 2024

Ukraine's domestically developed Dovbush T10 drone has taken on a new role acting as a mothership for first-person view (FPV) kamikaze quadcopters.
Loitering Munitions

Watch A Ukrainian Uncrewed Aerial Mothership Launch Kamikaze Drones

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 21, 2024