Loitering Munitions
Loitering Munitions
Switchblade, Shahed, and other one-way attack drones.
Latest Coverage
Rotron Aerospace SkyLance Loitering Munition Passes First Tests
Rotron Aerospace completes demonstration tests of SkyLance, a low-cost long-range loitering munition, days after US firm Ondas acquires the British drone maker.
DZYNE Technologies Unveils Blitz, a Mass-Producible Kamikaze Drone
DZYNE Technologies' Blitz is a Group 1 one-way attack drone with 80–150 km range, swarm-capable via BlitzBox ISO container, targeting the DoD's Drone Dominance Initiative.
How Europe Is Integrating AI Into Its Military Forces in 2026
Germany, France, and the UK are leading European AI military integration, from Helsing loitering munitions to Palantir partnerships, with Ukraine as the live test environment.
The $50,000 Problem: How Cheap Drones Are Breaking Modern Air Defense
A $50,000 Shahed drone forces a $4 million Patriot shot. Russia launched 6,583 of them in April alone. The economics of drone warfare have shifted — and nobody has solved it.
AeroVironment Wins Army LASSO Contract for Switchblade 400
AeroVironment has won a U.S. Army prototype agreement for the LASSO program to develop and test its Switchblade 400 anti-armor loitering munition.
Chinese Firms Still Shipping Drone Parts to Iran and Russia, WSJ Reports
Chinese exporters are openly shipping drone components including engines, batteries, and microchips to Iran and Russia despite US sanctions, the WSJ reports.
Bundeswehr Tests AI Drone Swarms with STARK Munitions
Germany's Bundeswehr tested AI-enabled recce-strike drone swarms with STARK's Virtus munition and Minerva C2 software.
Rheinmetall's €2.4B Drone Contract Can't Stop Stock Slide
Rheinmetall wins a €2.4B loitering munition contract for Germany but shares hit a 52-week low on valuation concerns.
Sixth-Generation C-UAS: How the Drone War Is Evolving
AI interceptors, networked kill chains, and Ukraine's Drone Line define the next stage of counter-drone warfare in 2026.
Frontline Robotics Begins Drone Production in Germany
Frontline Robotics and Quantum Systems launched a joint venture in Germany — Ukraine's first official military tech export.
Army Awards AeroVironment $134M for Red Dragon, P550
The US Army has contracted AeroVironment for its Red Dragon one-way attack drone and P550 reconnaissance platform in deals totaling over $134 million.
LUCAS FLM-136: The US Answer to the Shahed
SpektreWorks' FLM-136 LUCAS is a $35,000 US loitering munition modelled on Iran's Shahed-136, now used in combat against Iran by US Central Command.
Russia Launches 172 Drones at Ukraine in Single Night Attack
Russia hit Ukraine with 172 Shahed and Gerbera drones overnight April 1-2. Air defenses downed 147. Twenty-two drones struck targets across 12 locations.
France Plans 400% Drone Stockpile Increase in $9B Push
France's defense plan allocates $9.07B for drones and missiles, targeting a 400% drone inventory increase by 2030.
Russia is shipping upgraded Shahed drones back to Iran
Russia is transferring improved Shahed drone variants to Iran, including versions with better navigation and anti-jamming.
Companies
AeroVironment
US manufacturer of small tactical UAS, loitering munitions and counter-UAS systems, transformed in scale by its 2025 acquisition of BlueHalo.
US
Anduril Industries
US defense technology company building autonomous weapons, counter-UAS, and AI command software, and manufacturing them at its own Arsenal-1 plant in Ohio.
US
Baykar
Turkish defense company behind the Bayraktar TB2, the most widely exported armed drone of the past decade, now also the owner of Italy's Piaggio Aerospace.
TR
Quantum Systems
German maker of VTOL and fixed-wing reconnaissance drones for defense and government customers, with platforms deployed in Ukraine.
DE
Rheinmetall
German defense and automotive group producing armored vehicles, ammunition, air defense systems, and military drone platforms.
DE
Airbus
European aerospace group building commercial aircraft, military aircraft, helicopters, satellites, and uncrewed systems including the Wingman combat drone.
NL
DZYNE Technologies
US defense technology company developing autonomous drones, loitering munitions, and ISR systems for military and government customers.
United States
Edge Autonomy
US maker of tactical fixed-wing ISR drones, formerly UAV Factory, producing the Penguin series for military and government customers.
US
Recent Funding
Recent Contracts
defense
US Army PAE Fires, Anduril Industries
Three-year contract to supply a minimum of 3,000 surface-launched Barracuda-500M missiles with...
defense
US DoD Office of Under Secretary for Research and Engineering, Leidos
Three-year contract to supply 3,000 low-cost containerized missiles as part of DoD's low-cost...
defense
US Army Portfolio Acquisition Executive Fires, Anduril Industries
Three-year production agreement for a minimum of 3,000 Surface-Launched Barracuda-500M cruise...
defense
U.S. Department of Defense, Anduril Industries
Contract modification adding $100.3M to upgrade the Space Surveillance Network with mesh...
defense
U.S. Army, AeroVironment
Prototype agreement for the Low-Altitude Stalking and Strike Ordnance (LASSO) program covering...