iscover
The US Army is investigating the development of lethal payload capability for small unmanned aerial systems in a new proposal echoing the teachings of the Ukraine War.
The “Lethal Payloads for Small Unmanned Aerial Systems” project will accept proposals from 1 June and maintain a deadline for receipt of proposals until 27 June, according to a Department of the Army document.
Explosive payloads used on commercially available drones have been a major shift in warfare learnt during the Ukraine War. Systems have been used to great effect in targeting armoured vehicles via open hatches, lightly-armoured logistics vehicles and against individual troops entrenched in defensive positions.
The US Army proposal recommends submitted systems should employ lethal ammunition or explosives currently available in the US inventory and be fitted to short-range reconnaissance platforms.
They should also be attachable by soldiers in the field, increase lethal range beyond an M67 fragmentation grenade, operate on platform controller or simple system, pass safety testing, be made safe, and dismountable if not detonated.
Lethal payloads should also advance the US Army’s modernisation priorities and increase the lethality of its Infantry Brigade Combat Teams.
Want to see more stories from trusted news sources?
Make Defence Connect a preferred news source on Google.
Click here to add Defence Connect as a preferred news source.