Use of Small Drones as Expendable Munitions

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 The exposed Russian KOFZBCh-3 drone munition is a useful reminder that the drone war is not only evolving through airframes, guidance links and software, but also through the warheads being optimized for compact unmanned platforms. The visible concave copper liner suggests an explosively formed penetrator effect, while the internally segmented metal casing points to a deliberate fragmentation function, which means the same small munition is designed to threaten light armour, exposed personnel, equipment, shelters and soft targets with more than one damage mechanism. That is the underrated detail here, because #DroneWarfare is increasingly becoming a payload-design race where a few kilograms of mass have to deliver the right balance between penetration, fragmentation, blast and incendiary effect against the specific targets drones are now hunting every day. For #CUAS, this matters because the danger from a small drone cannot be judged only by size, range or visual signature, since two platforms that look broadly similar in flight can produce very different effects depending on whether the payload is a simple explosive charge, a shaped charge, an EFP, a fragmentation sleeve or a combined warhead. The KOFZBCh-3 also shows why recovered munition components are so valuable, because every liner, casing, fuze layout and explosive fill tells analysts what the attacker is prioritizing and which target sets the drone campaign is being adapted to defeat. For #MilitaryTechnology, the lesson is that cheap unmanned platforms do not stay simple for long, because once they become routine battlefield tools, both sides start refining the terminal effect with the same seriousness once reserved for artillery shells, anti-armour missiles and purpose-built loitering munitions. The wider implication is uncomfortable but clear, because as drone warheads become more specialized, protection also has to become more specific, and generic assumptions about nets, cages, spacing, camouflage or light cover will increasingly fail against payloads designed to exploit exactly those weaknesses. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘳, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘯.

The Weaponization of Kamikaze Drones Continues to Evolve Recent observations indicate the use of thermobaric RPO-A “Shmel” grenades as the primary warhead for aircraft-type kamikaze drones such as the “Lightning-2.” In parallel, TM-62 anti-tank mines are also being adapted as combat payloads for these systems. This approach significantly expands the operational impact of unmanned strike platforms. Thermobaric warheads are especially effective against personnel in fortified or enclosed positions, while TM-62 mines provide a powerful solution against armored vehicles and hardened infrastructure. The adoption of aircraft-type kamikaze drones points to a shift beyond short-range FPV attacks toward longer-range, higher-payload precision strikes, often using repurposed legacy munitions. This trend once again demonstrates how modern battlefields are driving rapid innovation—where drones are no longer just reconnaissance tools, but flexible, cost-effective strike weapons capable of delivering diverse and destructive payloads.

Pentagon Declares Small Drones as Ammunition, Empowering Lower-Level Commanders to Deploy Them ⸻ Introduction In response to battlefield innovation—spurred by drone use in conflicts like Ukraine—the Pentagon has launched a sweeping policy shift to treat small unmanned aerial systems (UAS) as expendable munitions. This change empowers frontline units by cutting bureaucracy, speeding procurement, and dramatically increasing drone deployment. ⸻ Detailed Breakdown 🔧 Policy Shift: Treating UAS as Consumables • Group 1 & 2 drones, weighing up to 55 lbs, will now be accounted for like ammo—cheap, readily replaceable, and exempt from durable property regulations . • These drones won’t require strict airworthiness certification, easing logistical burdens . 📈 Empowering Lower-Level Units • O-6 commanders (Colonels/Captains) can now authorize procurement and field use of small UAS directly . • Empowers squads and platoons to deploy drones tactically, mirroring grenade-level autonomy. 🎯 Strategic Drivers • Inspired by real-world success in Ukraine, where low-cost “kamikaze” drones reshaped tactics . • Defense Secretary Hegseth stated: “Drones are the biggest battlefield innovation in a generation, accounting for most of this year’s casualties in Ukraine” . 🛠 Broader Modernization Effort • Enhancing the domestic drone industrial base, favoring U.S.-made systems . • Expanding rapid prototyping—incorporating 18 autonomous drone prototypes developed in ~18 months . • Embedding drone warfare into training cycles to normalize usage across services . ⸻ Why It Matters • Tactical Advantage: With lightweight, mass-produced drones, U.S. forces can achieve battlefield awareness, targeting, and swarm strikes at scale, especially against peer adversaries. • Strategic Momentum: Shifts the balance toward cheaper, more agile warfare—moving away from costly, slow weapon systems. • Industrial Shockwave: Puts pressure on the U.S. drone industry to scale and innovate rapidly, parallel to Rev replicator initiatives already underway. • Global Implications: U.S. lagged behind small-drone proliferation from China, Iran, and Russia. This attempt at a “drone dominance” response is a critical catch-up play . ⸻ Conclusion The Pentagon’s decision to classify small drones as ammunition and empower battlefield commanders marks a watershed moment in military modernization. By drastically streamlining procurement, scaling domestic production, and integrating drone tactics into everyday training, the U.S. aims to transform warfare through affordable and agile systems. This initiative corrects years of inertia and seeks parity—or superiority—with drone-heavy adversaries.

The Pentagon Just Handed American Drone Startups a $1 Billion Golden Ticket On July 10, SECDEF dropped a memo that changes everything for drone manufacturers. Combined with Trump's June 6 executive order, we're witnessing the most radical shift in defense procurement since World War II. Here's what just happened:  The Pentagon ripped up years of red tape that kept innovative companies out of defense contracts. Now they're treating small drones (under 55 pounds) like ammunition - expendable, mass-produced, and urgently needed. The numbers are staggering: • Every Army squad gets attack drones by FY2026 • Production target: Millions of units annually • Weaponization approvals: Cut from years to 30 days • Battery certifications: Down to one week For companies eyeing this opportunity, here's your roadmap: Step 1: Compliance First (Immediate) Ensure NDAA compliance - zero Chinese components. Review the Blue UAS Framework. This isn't negotiable. One foreign chip kills your entire opportunity. Step 2: Prototype Fast (12-18 months) Build modular systems under 55 pounds. Think swappable payloads for ISR or strike missions. The 18 prototypes showcased on July 17 averaged 18 months of development vs. the traditional 6 years. Step 3: Get Certified (Ongoing) Apply to DIU's Blue UAS program. This is your fastest path to approved vendor status. The memo expands this list with AI-managed updates coming in 2026. Step 4: Find Your Entry Point (30-90 days) • Respond to the Army's July 8 solicitation for low-cost systems • Partner with established primes as a subcontractor • Target frontline units are now empowered to buy directly Step 5: Scale Smart (By 2026) Secure private funding. Explore DoD purchase commitments. Participate in the new drone test zones launching in 90 days. The brutal reality? We're playing catch-up. China produces 90% of commercial drones globally. But that's precisely why this opportunity exists. The Pentagon needs American manufacturers desperately. Watch for these challenges: • Supply chain constraints for non-Chinese components • Fierce competition from AeroVironment and Kratos • Higher production costs vs. Chinese competitors • Maintaining cybersecurity while moving fast Stock prices tell the story - drone companies surged 15-40% after the announcement. Private capital is flooding in. America is building a new arsenal, and drones are the foundation. If you have manufacturing capability, AI expertise, or can build at scale, this is your Manhattan Project moment. The difference? This time, we know exactly what we're building and why. The window is open. But it won't stay that way.

Japan is exploring unconventional and highly cost-effective military technology by adopting new low-cost, cardboard-based drones. Developed by the domestic startup Air Kamuy, these disposable unmanned aerial vehicles are cleverly built from corrugated cardboard treated with water-resistant coatings and reinforced composites. Priced at roughly $2,500 per unit, they represent a drastic cost reduction compared to traditional military fixed-wing drones while remaining highly capable for modern tactical operations. Despite their cheap and unconventional materials, the AirKamuy 150 drones deliver impressive performance metrics. They are capable of reaching speeds up to 120 km/h and boast a solid 80-minute flight time. Designed for rapid deployment, the drones are shipped as flat-packed sheets and can be easily assembled on the battlefield in under five minutes. Most notably, their cardboard construction naturally reduces radar reflection, allowing them to effectively evade enemy detection systems that typically search for metal or carbon-fiber aircraft. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force has already begun early operational adoption of these stealthy units, initially utilizing them as expendable aerial targets. However, their true strategic value lies in disposable reconnaissance missions and the ability to deploy massive, low-cost swarms that can quickly overwhelm expensive enemy air defenses. As global military strategies increasingly shift toward affordable, mass-produced unmanned systems, this innovative cardboard aircraft perfectly positions Japan at the forefront of adaptable modern warfare.

I'm sharing this technical catalog profiling Russian military drones captured or observed in Ukraine—spanning reconnaissance, kamikaze, and strike platforms. The document provides detailed specifications for 47 distinct models, offering a good picture of Russian unmanned capabilities deployed in the ongoing conflict. The catalog reveals a striking cost spectrum, from $700 Chernika-1 kamikaze drones to $3.5 million Forpost-RU strike UAVs, demonstrating Russia's employment of both mass-produced expendable systems and sophisticated high-value platforms. The capability range is equally diverse, covering small tactical systems weighing as little as 2 kg with a 40 km range, to operational platforms exceeding 1,150 kg with a 250 km communication range. Major system families include the Zala reconnaissance series, the Lancet loitering munitions, the Orlan multifunctional platforms, and the Iranian-origin Shahed systems. Each entry provides critical technical specifications—weight, wingspan, speed, endurance, propulsion type, and counter-UAV evasion features—though several entries show incomplete data. This resource serves as a practical reference for understanding the Russian UAV threat environment and informing counter-UAS strategies. The diversity and volume of systems highlighted in this catalog underscore the industrialization of unmanned warfare in this conflict.

Drone Warfare 3.0: Autonomous Attack Systems Without Human Operators In recent months, combat operations in Ukraine have confirmed the use of V2U-class drones — fully autonomous loitering munitions. These platforms operate without radio links, without operator control, and make independent decisions using onboard AI. The V2U drone is equipped with a Jetson Orin module, GPS, and a real-time video analysis system. It is capable of detecting, identifying, and engaging targets autonomously based on image recognition — without any communication with the ground. Reports suggest that this system can detect and strike mobile air defense teams by visually analyzing their shape, spatial configuration, and signature — not by signal detection. Key capabilities of this threat class: No radio link = not susceptible to jamming No operator = no remote interception Autonomous target recognition and strike Immune to classic EW and GPS spoofing Scalable production using commercially available components Operational implications: Legacy counter-UAS strategies based solely on signal denial (jamming) are no longer sufficient. Modern countermeasures must include: ✅ Optical, thermal and radar-based early detection ✅ Programmed airburst munitions (30–35 mm) for kinetic response ✅ High-speed interceptors and directed energy weapons ✅ Mobile and visually-masked defense systems ✅ SOP revisions for autonomous threat timelines Strategic takeaway: Drone Warfare 3.0 is not future warfare — it’s current reality. Nations that fail to adapt their layered defense architecture to address autonomous systems will face growing vulnerabilities across the battlespace.

German start-ups Helsing and Stark have secured Bundeswehr kamikaze drone contracts worth up to €4.3bn combined, marking Berlin’s first major procurement of loitering munitions. Munich-based Helsing won an initial €269mn contract for its HX-2, with options that could take the total value to €1.46bn. Berlin-based Stark received an identical €269mn initial award for its Virtus drone, with potential expansion to €2.86bn. Both contracts include an “innovation clause” requiring suppliers to provide the latest technology upgrades — a recognition of the rapid iteration cycle seen in Ukraine. The awards come despite mixed trial results: Stark reportedly failed to hit targets in UK and German tests, while Helsing’s HX-2 was cited in German ministry reporting as achieving 5 hits from 14 deployments in Ukraine’s Donbas, though the company states it has successfully struck armoured and artillery targets under electronic warfare conditions. Strategically, the decision reflects Germany’s accelerated procurement posture as it equips its new Lithuania-based brigade and adapts to battlefield lessons from Ukraine. It also signals a shift away from traditional primes — Rheinmetall was excluded after delays to its FV-014 “Raider” drone — towards venture-backed defence technology firms with strong private capital backing from figures including Daniel Ek and Peter Thiel. Bundestag approval is still pending, but the scale and structure of these contracts underline how rapidly loitering munitions have moved from niche capability to core force design in Europe. #defencetech #drones #Bundeswehr #aerospace #Europe

🚁 Footage from the Svatove–Kupyansk direction shows Ukrainian fiber-optic FPV drones operated by the 77th Airmobile Brigade striking Russian military vehicles and equipment with precision. Unlike conventional radio-controlled FPVs, fiber-optic drones are physically tethered to their operators, making them highly resistant to jamming and electronic warfare—an area where Russia has invested heavily. The result is a reliable, low-cost strike capability that can penetrate contested electromagnetic environments and destroy high-value targets at close range, further compressing the sensor-to-shooter timeline on today’s battlefield. 🔥 This video underscores how Ukraine continues to adapt faster than its adversary, turning Russian EW strengths into diminishing returns through innovation and rapid fielding. Small, expendable systems are imposing outsized costs on Russian forces, eroding mobility, logistics, and morale while preserving Ukrainian manpower. These kinds of battlefield adaptations don’t just blunt Russian advances—they redefine modern land warfare and highlight why sustained Western support for Ukraine’s defense and innovation ecosystem remains strategically essential. 🇺🇦💥 #SlavaUkraini #StandWithUkraine #ArmUkraineNow #DeOppressoLiber

THE U.S. JUST USED “SHAHED-STYLE” DRONES IN IRAN For the first time, U.S. Central Command confirmed the operational use of strike UAVs during Operation “Epic Rage” in Iran. The interesting part is not simply that drones were used. It’s that the U.S. reportedly deployed low-cost strike UAVs modeled after Iranian Shahed systems are effectively mirroring the architecture that has defined long-range drone warfare over the past two years. The likely platform is LUCAS, introduced in late 2025 to Task Force Scorpion Strike. Public descriptions frame it as a delta-wing UAV roughly 3 meters long with a 2.4 meter wingspan, at an estimated unit cost of around $35,000. That number matters. For comparison, traditional cruise missiles often cost hundreds of thousands to over a million dollars per round. A $35k expendable strike drone shifts the cost-per-target logic dramatically. It allows saturation, persistence, and scalable punishment without burning high-end munitions. The irony is strategic: the U.S. studied Iranian Shahed drones which Russia has used extensively in Ukraine and built a domestic analogue. The model has effectively gone full circle. Cheap, long-range, expendable, delta-wing strike drones are no longer a “regional workaround.” They are becoming a normalized part of U.S. operational doctrine. At the same time: • The U.S. Defense Innovation Unit has authorized procurement of FPV strike drones (e.g., Nightmare FPV by Renegade UxS). • The U.S. Marine Corps is reportedly exploring acquisition of thousands of FPVs for ISR and strike roles. This confirms a broader pattern we’ve been tracking: mass, low-cost drones are no longer a Ukraine-only battlefield phenomenon. They are reshaping force structure decisions inside NATO militaries. The implication is structural. Every major military is now converging toward a layered drone model: - Cheap FPVs at the tactical edge - Mid-range expendable strike UAVs (~$30–50k class) - High-end ISR/loiter systems The question is no longer whether to adopt this model. The question is whether domestic industry can scale fast enough to supply it without relying on adversary supply chains. The drone era is no longer asymmetric. It’s becoming standardized doctrine.