US Army wants small drone suppliers to enable munition-delivery

It’s no secret Russia’s cakewalking expectations to invade and quickly take over Ukraine were upended in large part by defenders’ wide-ranging and extremely effective repurposing of comparatively cheap consumer UAVs into munitions-dropping strike vehicles. Now the US Army is moving to replicate that example, representing a potential boon for small drone partners.

According to a call for bids from aerial tech suppliers by its Small Business Innovation Research unit, the US Army is looking to adapt non-combat drones already at their disposal with (as the solicitation is titled) “Lethal Payloads for Small Unmanned Aerial Systems.” 

Read: Exclusive: Insiders describe Ukraine operation preparing drone strikes inside Russia

According to the document, the initiative seeks to transform drones already qualified for the Department of Defense (DoD) Blue sUAS list of trusted suppliers into munitions-loaded and -dropping UAVs. Those would…