US Army Unit Deploys In-House Assembled Drone with 3D-Printed 'Dragoon Bombs'

First In-House Drone Deployment

The U.S. Army’s 2nd Cavalry Regiment (2CR) in Bavaria, Germany, successfully launched an attack drone assembled by its own soldiers. The unit utilized an Orqa MRM2-10 drone, which they built and equipped with a custom electronic safety and arming device attached to 3D-printed casings called “Dragoon bombs.”

Company commander Capt. Michael Bapp stated this is potentially an Army-wide first for a live, kinetic drone strike conducted without contractor or external unit support. Regiment commander Col. Timothy Price added that this demonstrates the unit's ability to adapt existing resources to meet threats.

Customizable Munitions

The 3D-printed 'Dragoon bombs' are designed for modification. Explosives within the bombs can be altered, for instance, by adding ball bearings to target enemy personnel or incorporating a shaped charge to counter light armor.

Context of Drone Warfare

While large unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been used by the U.S. military for decades, the use of small commercial drones in combat gained prominence after the 2022 Russia-Ukraine conflict. These devices offered cost efficiency and availability, helping Ukraine counter numerical disadvantages. Both sides in that conflict, and others globally, now use drones for tactical and strategic missions.

U.S. Military's Growing Drone Focus

The widespread use of drones in Ukraine has prompted various branches of the U.S. military to experiment with similar technologies. The U.S. Army has initiated a three-week 'Unmanned Advanced Lethality Course' to train soldiers in 3D printing and drone piloting, aiming to develop in-house capabilities for building and repairing these systems. The U.S. Marine Corps has also developed its own 3D-printed drone, specifically designed without China-sourced parts.