AeroVironment Red Dragon
In 2025, AeroVironment (AV Inc.) revealed Red Dragon, a non-recoverable long-range one-way attack drone. It is designed for cost-efficient mass production. The airframe is of conventional layout, and the drone is launched from a simple rail launcher. The system can be made ready for launch in less than 10 minutes. Red Dragon is also specifically designed for operation in signal-denied environments. It has an autonomous navigation system, which doesn't rely on GPS. Target recognition, target classification and decision-making doesn't depend on operator input, for missions with degraded communications or none at all. A Red Dragon drone can deliver a payload of 10 kg (22 lb) over a range of about 400 km (250 miles),
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| Image: AV Inc. |
| Red Dragon |
In March 2026, the U.S. Army placed an order for an undisclosed number of Red Dragon systems plus associated equipment.
Specifications
Note: Data given by several sources show slight variations. Figures given below may therefore be inaccurate!
Data for Red Dragon:
| Length | 2.0 m (6.6 ft) |
| Wingspan | 3.6 m (11.8 ft) |
| Weight | 20 kg (45 lb) |
| Speed | cruise: 90 km/h (56 mph); max: 160 km/h (100 mph) |
| Range | 400 km (250 miles) |
| Propulsion | Electric |
Main Sources
[1] AeroVironment Website: Red Dragon®
[2] The Defense Post: AeroVironment
Wins US Army Red Dragon Long-Range Drone Deal, March 2026
Back to Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles, Appendix 4
Last Updated: 10 July 2026