SOCOM is seeking a long-range kamikaze drone
AI Analysis
U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is soliciting information for a long-range, air-launched loitering munition (ALM) with a range of at least 75 nautical miles and a 40+ minute loiter time. The program aims to extend SOCOM’s strike capabilities beyond current systems, allowing for targeting deep within enemy territory from standoff ranges. A single demonstration is planned on an AC-130J or similar platform.
Key Takeaways
- SOCOM seeks an ALM with a range of 75+ nautical miles, loiter time of 40+ minutes, speed of 50-100 knots, and a weight under 95lbs.
- The desired munition should be compatible with Common Launch Tubes (CLT) for flexible deployment from various aircraft.
- Guidance systems should be passive (RF homing or ATR) to minimize detectability.
- SOCOM is requesting cost estimates for quantities of 500, 1000, and 3000 units, indicating a potential large-scale procurement.
- Recent conflicts (Nagorno-Karabakh, Ukraine) demonstrate the increasing prominence and effectiveness of long-range loitering munitions like the Harpy and Banderol.
Why It Matters
This program signals a growing emphasis on long-range precision strike capabilities for SOCOM, enabling them to neutralize high-value targets in contested environments without risking crewed aircraft. The adoption of loitering munitions expands SOCOM’s ability to operate effectively in areas with robust air defenses, and the CLT compatibility increases platform flexibility. The program’s success could influence future procurement decisions across the Department of Defense.
U.S. Special Operations Command is looking for a small but long-range kamikaze drone.
The goal is to develop an air-launched loitering munition “with an extended range and capabilities beyond the current SOPGM [Stand-Off Precision Guided Munition portfolio],” according to a June 26 SOCOM Request For Information. The response deadline is July 27.
Launched at an altitude of 5,000 to 30,000 feet, the desired Air Loitering Munition must have a range of at least 75 nautical miles. Once over the target zone, it must have a loiter time of at least 40 minutes while orbiting at an altitude of 500 to 3,000 feet, according to the RFI. The munition should also be able to maintain a speed of 50 to 100 knots, with a weight that does not exceed 95 pounds.
By comparison, AeroVironment’s Switchblade 600 — which SOCOM ordered in 2021 to test as a boat-launched weapon — has a range of more than 55 miles and weighs 33 pounds. The ALM’s guidance would be passive, homing in on radio emissions or using automatic target recognition.
The ALM will be able to be launched by SOCOM fixed-wing aircraft, according to the request. Ideally, the weapon should be capable of being fired from a Common Launch Tube, a launcher that enables most military or civilian aircraft to become missile platforms.
For the Common Launch Tube, the ALM would be no longer than 42 inches, with a 5.9-inch diameter. Fitted to a BRU-71 or BRU-78 weapons rack, the ALM could be up to 90 inches long and 9 inches wide.
The project will involve “a single demonstration for evaluation on the AC-130J Ghostrider or another SOF platform,” according to the RFI.
The RFI also calls for rough cost estimates for orders of 500, 1000 and 3000 munitions. SOCOM is “looking for true innovative, out-of-the-box thinking, conceptual approaches and ideas on how industry can expediently design, manufacture and deliver stated capabilities.”
While short-range backpack kamikaze drones have become a fixture on the battlefield, long-range loitering munitions have become increasingly prominent.
In the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War, Azerbaijan used the Israeli-made Harpy to devastate Armenian forces. Ukraine and Russia have also made extensive use of long-range loitering drones. Earlier this month, Russia bombarded Kyiv with the Banderol, which reportedly has a range of 500 miles and packs a 150-pound warhead.
Armed with loitering munitions with a range of around 100 miles, SOCOM MC-130J gunships and other aircraft would be able to hunt targets deep inside enemy lines — and do so while remaining out of range of enemy air defenses.
Michael Peck is a correspondent for Defense News and a columnist for the Center for European Policy Analysis. He holds an M.A. in political science from Rutgers University. Find him at theuncommondefense.com. His email is mikedefense1@gmail.com.