US Army drops live grenade from a drone for the first time – Hegseth declares drone dominance
11 July 2025 09:34
The U.S. Army has successfully completed a multi-year development program and conducted the first official drop of a live grenade from a quadcopter. The historic moment took place on June 25 at the Grafenwöhr training ground in Germany, when drone operator Michael Fish of the 173rd Airborne Brigade dropped an M67 grenade from a Skydio X10 drone. This is stated in an article by Defense Express, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
The operation was conducted in cooperation with the 7th Army Combat Command and the Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine. A specially designed Audible suspension was used to carry out the drop, which took several years of research and development.
David Ashger, deputy chief of operations for the 7th Army Combatant Command, called the moment revolutionary, saying that soldiers will be able to use this capability perfectly in combat. The Ukrainian military has been using this revolutionary tactic for several years.
Experiments with drops in the United States began under the auspices of the U.S. Army’s Combat Capabilities Development Command several years ago. The first tests began in March 2023 and showed the success of the solution, but it has only now reached the army due to the need to develop strict safety protocols.
The operation required approval not only from the US Army but also from the Bundeswehr. The Skydio X10 drone was equipped with approved geofencing technology with several levels of security and resistance to radio signal jamming, and the drop itself took place under controlled weather conditions.
DEVCOM specialists, who were actively involved in planning the experiment, have already incorporated its results into the development of new modifications to the Audible drop system. It is planned that this summer experiments will continue with the integration of the system for other drones.
The ultimate goal of the American developers is to create a unified solution for dropping most of the ammunition available to infantrymen. It is expected that the Audible system will be printed on a 3D printer directly in military units.
Comments under the news on Defence Express reflect a mixed reaction from readers. Some users are ironic that it took the Americans several years to master a technology that Ukrainians have been using for a long time. Others point out that the US will end up with a single unified solution for the entire army, as opposed to a variety of homegrown options. Some commentators have expressed concern about the American bureaucracy that is slowing down the army’s development.
A pompous statement by the Secretary of Defense
After the successful test, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hagel recorded a pompous video in which he declared the US intention to dominate the field of unmanned technologies. In his address, he emphasized that the US military was “brought here to rebuild the military” and respond to modern challenges.
Hegseth announced the signing of President Trump’s executive order to “unleash American drone dominance,” promising to lift restrictive policies and develop domestic drone production. The minister also announced plans to arm combat units with American drones and train officers for future warfare.
