The U.S. Army's 2nd Cavalry Regiment in Bavaria says it has carried out a live attack with a drone its own soldiers assembled. The unit used an Orqa MRM2-10 quadcopter and attached a 3D-printed casing, nicknamed Dragoon Bombs, containing an electronic safety and arming device. The company commander claims it is a conventional Army first, potentially Army-wide, for a kinetic drone strike without contractor or outside support.
According to the regiment's commander, the strike shows the unit adapting available equipment to create a credible force. The 3D-printed munitions can be filled differently depending on the target: ball bearings for anti-personnel use, or a shaped charge to attack light armor.
The demonstration reflects wider U.S. military interest in small commercial drones, which became prominent after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Army has started a three-week course to train soldiers in 3D printing and drone piloting; the Marine Corps and Navy are pursuing similar efforts, including a Marine 3D-printed drone with no Chinese-made parts and containerized fabrication on aircraft carriers.