Cummings Aerospace has flight-tested its Hellhound S3 kamikaze drone at the US Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiment (AEWE) 2025, proving its ability to operate in a tactically-relevant environment.
The turbojet-powered, 3D-printed loitering munition is now being readied to compete for the army’s preliminary Low Altitude Stalking and Striking Ordnance, or LASSO, program, slated to kick off later this year.
The program seeks to equip Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCTs) with a man-portable, long-range, anti-armor capability similar to the armored brigades.
The unmanned aerial system was reportedly already validated against the program’s requirements earlier this year, including for range.
Hellhound S3
Hellhound’s range remains undisclosed, but it reportedly surpassed 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) using just half its fuel in a prior test.
Weighing under 25 pounds (11.4 kilograms) and reaching speeds over 375 miles (603 kilometers) per hour, it delivers a battlefield advantage over slower quadcopters and prop-driven drones.
“Hellhound’s performance at AEWE 2025 highlighted a fundamental reality — speed matters, and quadcopters and prop-driven drones take too long to get downrange,” CEO of Cummings Aerospace Sheila Cummings said.
“While quadcopters and propeller-driven drones will still be puttering along behind friendly lines, Hellhound will already be over the target area, giving IBCTs the ability to strike faster, reach deeper into the battlespace, and decisively engage fleeting, time-sensitive targets.”
3D-Printed
Its 3D-printed design enables rapid, cost-effective production and easy field adaptation.
It allows on-demand production, including the fabrication of parts.
The modular payload system — supporting warheads, electronic warfare, and ISR — can be swapped in under five minutes without tools, enhancing its versatility on the battlefield.
