kamikaze drones Archives

Army getting extra funding from multiple sources to accelerate LASSO kamikaze drone program

The Low Altitude Stalking and Strike Ordnance program is intended to beef up the Army's arsenal of loitering munitions.

May 2, 2024 By Jon Harper

Switchblade 600 rendering (AeroVironment image)

Army requesting more than $120M for LASSO kamikaze drones in fiscal 2025

LASSO is part of what the service envisions as a family of low-altitude UAS that are “semi-autonomous (human-in-the-loop) unmanned aerial systems that improves the Infantry Brigade Combat…

Mar 12, 2024 By Jon Harper

The Army’s Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Project Management Office, in collaboration with the U.S. Special Operations Command, executed a flight demonstration involving the first launch of the Air-Launched, Tube-Integrated Unmanned System (Altius) 700 air vehicle on Dec. 3, at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. (Army photo by Daniel Henke.)

SOCOM gearing up to assess air-launched kamikaze drones

U.S. Special Operations Command is looking for loitering munitions that can be dropped from a variety of aircraft in its inventory.

Feb 8, 2024 By Jon Harper

Doug Bush, assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, is guided by Col. J. Frederick Dente, V Corps chief of staff, during a visit to Camp Kościuszko, Poland, Sep. 8, 2022. (Photo by Spc. Dean Johnson)

Army acquisition chief hopeful that Congress will grant reprogramming request for Replicator

With loitering munitions reportedly in the running for accelerated mass production, the Army’s top weapons buyer expressed hope that lawmakers will sign off on the Pentagon’s reprogramming…

Feb 5, 2024 By Jon Harper

Switchblade 600 kamikaze drones in the running for Replicator mass production

With a 24-mile range, 40 minutes of loitering endurance and the ability to fly at speeds of up to 115 miles per hour, Switchblade 600s are built…

Feb 2, 2024 By Brandi Vincent

Army wants more vendors, more money for LASSO kamikaze drones

The Army has big plans for its Low Altitude Stalking and Strike Ordnance program.

Dec 6, 2023 By Jon Harper

An unmanned underwater vessel (Boeing image)

Marine Corps leader keen on underwater drones that can launch loitering munitions

"Imagine a fully autonomous UUV that can go out, get to within X range of an area, surface and launch thousands of loitering munitions that are fully…

Sep 6, 2023 By Jon Harper

A lethal miniature aerial missile system flies during an exercise at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Sept. 2, 2020. (Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler Forti)

Army may procure multiple variants of LASSO kamikaze drones to boost production capacity, acquisition chief says

Drones from the Low Altitude Stalking and Strike Ordnance initiative are expected to be able to destroy armored vehicles.

Aug 7, 2023 By Jon Harper

DOD tests airborne microwave weapon’s ability to defeat kamikaze drones

Lockheed Martin's MORFIUS system can fly close to small drones and attack them with high-powered microwave pulses.

Jul 13, 2023 By Jon Harper

A U.S. Marine Corps Hero-400 loitering munition drone is staged before flight on San Clemente Island, California, May 25, 2022. The Hero-400 is a loitering munition that the United States Marine Corps and other Department of Defense entities are beginning to incorporate into specific mission sets. This initial training flight develops the unmanned aerial systems pilots’ confidence and abilities to be able to operate the Hero-400 in any clime and place, and enabling 3rd MAW to remain a more lethal and ready force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Daniel Childs)

Marines to develop air-launched loitering munitions with swarm capability for Indo-Pacific operations

The project — called the Long-Range Attack Munition — was revealed Monday in the annual update to Force Design 2030.

Jun 5, 2023 By Mikayla Easley