Army buys Red Dragon long-range attack drones
Quick Insights
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.
This article is part of a story we're tracking:
Should this be getting more attention?
You Might Have Missed
Related stories from different sources and perspectives
Global‘False flag attack’: Iran denies claims it fired missiles at Diego Garcia
Esmaeil Baghaei denies the long-range missile attack, which could change the calculus of the war for US allies.
PoliticsFlorida axes sociology as required class at state universities in latest attack on ‘woke’
<p>Move by state education officials picked by Republican governor removes the course as a graduation component</p><p>Education leaders in Florida have removed <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/18/florida-colleges-push-back-race-gender-restrictions">sociology</a> as a graduation component at state universities in Republican governor Ron DeSantis’s latest attack on what he sees as the “woke” indoctrination of students.</p><p>The move on Thursday by a majority of DeSantis’s hand-picked university board of governors effectively relegates the stand-alone Introduction to Sociology course to a makeweight elective instead of a core component subject that has been a popular choice for generations of students.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/27/florida-sociology-university-class">Continue reading...</a>
GlobalZelensky slams 'absolute depravity' after massive Russian drone attack
Russia launched a massive attack on Ukraine in broad daylight on March 25, firing hundreds of drones into the territory. It comes after Russia fired nearly 1,000 drones in a 24-hour period, killing a total of eight people across the country. This record attack had hit Lviv's historic centre and residential houses in the west of the country.
National SecurityPentagon Reveals Attacks in Latin America Are Just the Beginning
With “Operation Total Extermination” and Trump’s threats against Cuba, expect more U.S. military strikes in the region. The post Pentagon Reveals Attacks in Latin America Are Just the Beginning appeared first on The Intercept .
National SecurityArmy launches drone marketplace developed in partnership with Amazon
The digital storefront will allow users to compare system functionalities, provide direct feedback, and place orders, according to the Army. The post Army launches drone marketplace developed in partnership with Amazon appeared first on DefenseScoop .
TechnologyUltralightweight sonar plus AI lets tiny drones navigate like bats
Inspired by bats, a new ultra-low-power sensing system enables tiny drones to navigate through darkness, smoke and dust, where cameras and other light-based sensors fail.
Pro-Iranian group claims credit for hacking into FBI Director Patel's personal account
A pro-Iranian hacking group claimed Friday to have hacked an account of FBI Director Kash Patel and has posted online what appear to be years-old photographs of him, along with a work resume and other personal documents.
Did this story change how you see things?
Stories like this only matter when people see them. Help us get verified journalism in front of more eyes.
The Verity Ledger curates verified investigative journalism from trusted sources only.
See our sourcesMost Read This Week
Senate deal reached to cap insulin costs
'The gravest crime against humanity': What does the UN vote on slavery mean?
Pentagon will remove media offices after judge reinstates NYT's press credentials
Iran built a vast camera network to control dissent. Israel used it to track targets, AP sources say
At Pentagon Christian service, Hegseth prays for violence 'against those who deserve no mercy'
