Army buys Red Dragon long-range attack drones
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The Bottom Line
Army procurement of Red Dragon long-range attack drones and P550 reconnaissance drones expands military strike capabilities.
AI Summary
The Army awarded AeroVironment a $17 million contract for its Red Dragon long-range attack drone, with completion targeted for April 8, the Pentagon announced Friday. The unmanned system boasts a range exceeding 400 kilometers—nearly four times that of AeroVironment's Switchblade 600—and carries up to 10 kilograms of payload while operating autonomously in GPS-denied environments. The deal includes ground control stations, battery chargers, training materials, and field support, and comes as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushes the military's "Drone Dominance" initiative to expand lethal unmanned capabilities. The contract award also follows the U.S. military's first combat use of the LUCAS long-range drone against Iran two weeks ago. The Pentagon simultaneously announced a separate $117 million AeroVironment contract for P550 reconnaissance drones, due for completion July 23.
What's Being Done
The Army awarded AeroVironment contracts for the Red Dragon attack drone and P550 reconnaissance drone.
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