The Army wants to use bullets, mortars, and artillery to take out small drones

[rangerrebew]

The Army wants to use bullets, mortars, and artillery to take out small drones
How existing systems are being shaped to shoot at tiny targets.
Meghann Myers | March 26, 2026
Army Drones
   
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama—Army leaders often say they want to stop using million-dollar missiles to shoot down thousand-dollar drones. One of the solutions may be cheap munitions the service already has.

While the Army is leading an interagency task force to source dedicated counter-drone systems, the Capability Program Executive for ammunition and energetics is taking a look at the Army’s existing rounds to make them capable of shooting down much smaller targets.

“We all know how important missiles are to the fight. We see it in the news. But there's also a point where missiles can't get after every munition, every threat, so we need to supplement that with something that we already have within our formations,” Kaitlyn Tani, deputy project manager at Maneuver Ammunition systems, said Wednesday at the AUSA Global Force Symposium.

There has already been demonstrated success in using bullets against drones, she said, particularly ones like the XM121 High Explosive Proximity round, a 30mm bullet that only needs to get near a target to take it out with its blast radius.

https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2026/03/army-wants-use-bullets-mortars-and-artillery-rounds-take-out-small-drones/412392/?oref=d1-skybox-hp

[rangerrebew]

I don't care what they use as long as it isn't the result of some dumbass woke experiment and does, in fact, work.

[BobfromWB]

The Army wants to use bullets, mortars, and artillery to take out small drones
How existing systems are being shaped to shoot at tiny targets.
Meghann Myers | March 26, 2026
Army Drones
   
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama—Army leaders often say they want to stop using million-dollar missiles to shoot down thousand-dollar drones. One of the solutions may be cheap munitions the service already has.

While the Army is leading an interagency task force to source dedicated counter-drone systems, the Capability Program Executive for ammunition and energetics is taking a look at the Army’s existing rounds to make them capable of shooting down much smaller targets.

“We all know how important missiles are to the fight. We see it in the news. But there's also a point where missiles can't get after every munition, every threat, so we need to supplement that with something that we already have within our formations,” Kaitlyn Tani, deputy project manager at Maneuver Ammunition systems, said Wednesday at the AUSA Global Force Symposium.

There has already been demonstrated success in using bullets against drones, she said, particularly ones like the XM121 High Explosive Proximity round, a 30mm bullet that only needs to get near a target to take it out with its blast radius.

https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2026/03/army-wants-use-bullets-mortars-and-artillery-rounds-take-out-small-drones/412392/?oref=d1-skybox-hp

Yet somehow [ like magic? ] the Ukraine anti-drone FPVs, costing $2000-2500, manage to take out 95% of the Russian drones.

By the time a troop hears a drone nearby, its already too late, as proven in real combat.

But then Ukrainians don't meet the US dress code, and so, no one in the US will consider them in the slightest - best to reinvent the wheel, than use the ones already in the field.

[Smokin Joe]

Yet somehow [ like magic? ] the Ukraine anti-drone FPVs, costing $2000-2500, manage to take out 95% of the Russian drones.

By the time a troop hears a drone nearby, its already too late, as proven in real combat.

But then Ukrainians don't meet the US dress code, and so, no one in the US will consider them in the slightest - best to reinvent the wheel, than use the ones already in the field.

I admit, I am all for what works. I don't give a damn whether it wears a tie or not.

Get what works now, and experiment with other sh*t later.

[Cyber Liberty]

Yet somehow [ like magic? ] the Ukraine anti-drone FPVs, costing $2000-2500, manage to take out 95% of the Russian drones.

By the time a troop hears a drone nearby, its already too late, as proven in real combat.

But then Ukrainians don't meet the US dress code, and so, no one in the US will consider them in the slightest - best to reinvent the wheel, than use the ones already in the field.

Bullshit! Do you really hate Trump that much?

[Cyber Liberty]

I don't care if we want to use slingshots, let them!

[libertybele]

Yet somehow [ like magic? ] the Ukraine anti-drone FPVs, costing $2000-2500, manage to take out 95% of the Russian drones.

By the time a troop hears a drone nearby, its already too late, as proven in real combat.

But then Ukrainians don't meet the US dress code, and so, no one in the US will consider them in the slightest - best to reinvent the wheel, than use the ones already in the field.

Last I had heard Z was over in the ME offering some help so it would seem that he's been given some attention, though I also read that he is concerned because he isn't getting the attention he was getting prior to the U.S. being involved in the conflict with Iran. He's not getting the funding he needs.

That could be nothing but a rumor ... as well as the Ukranians not meeting U.S. dress code ( )

I'm not a fan of Z any more than you are a fan of Trump's.  However, Trump is our President and he has done extraordinarily well for our country! 

[libertybele]

I don't care if we want to use slingshots, let them!

[Hoodat]

Ukraine uses weighted nets, among other things.


How Ukraine Uses Net-Firing Drones To Snag Russian UAVs

[The_Reader_David]

Bullshit! Do you really hate Trump that much?

The dress code remark was a bit snarky, but deserved given Hegseth's contempt for bearded soldiers and Trump's evident contempt for the Ukrainians.  Not following the Ukrainian lead on drone warfare is stupid, whether the stupidity comes from Trump, Hegesth, or pressure from big US defense contractors that would lose out to upstarts like Anduril, Palantir, and little companies yet to be formed specializing in quick turnaround on new drone designs if we actually did it.

[Cyber Liberty]

The dress code remark was a bit snarky, but deserved given Hegseth's contempt for bearded soldiers and Trump's evident contempt for the Ukrainians.  Not following the Ukrainian lead on drone warfare is stupid, whether the stupidity comes from Trump, Hegesth, or pressure from big US defense contractors that would lose out to upstarts like Anduril, Palantir, and little companies yet to be formed specializing in quick turnaround on new drone designs if we actually did it.

No, he's complaining that Trump insisted Zelinskyy wear a suit to the Oval Office. 

[libertybele]

No, he's complaining that Trump insisted Zelinskyy wear a suit to the Oval Office.

I think the complaint was valid.  Most leaders wear appropriate attire when meeting with other heads of state.  Zelenskyy could have at least put on a blazer. President Trump still met with him, it's not like he refused to talk with him. For crying out loud, get over it!

Right now Z is in need of US patriot missiles and is concerned that missiles are needed in the ME right now and won't go to him.

(I'm getting into an issue that should likely be posted in the Ukraine thread -- and so -- no further comment).

https://apnews.com/article/zelenskyy-russia-ukraine-iran-patriot-missiles-584e73848c0ca1008824c399b8026487

[Cyber Liberty]

I think the complaint was valid.  Most leaders wear appropriate attire when meeting with other heads of state.  Zelenskyy could have at least put on a blazer. President Trump still met with him, it's not like he refused to talk with him. For crying out loud, get over it!

Right now Z is in need of US patriot missiles and is concerned that missiles are needed in the ME right now and won't go to him.

(I'm getting into an issue that should likely be posted in the Ukraine thread -- and so -- no further comment).

https://apnews.com/article/zelenskyy-russia-ukraine-iran-patriot-missiles-584e73848c0ca1008824c399b8026487

It's only a problem when Trump insists.  I'm sure it was OK when Reagan did it.  Now, back to the thread, already in progress!

[Timber Rattler]

Yet somehow [ like magic? ] the Ukraine anti-drone FPVs, costing $2000-2500, manage to take out 95% of the Russian drones.

By the time a troop hears a drone nearby, its already too late, as proven in real combat.

But then Ukrainians don't meet the US dress code, and so, no one in the US will consider them in the slightest - best to reinvent the wheel, than use the ones already in the field.

Classic case of "Not Invented Here (NIH)" syndrome.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Not_invented_here

https://www.hypeinnovation.com/blog/what-is-not-invented-here-syndrome

https://learnosity.com/edtech-blog/not-invented-here-syndrome-explained/

[Timber Rattler]

It's only a problem when Trump insists.  I'm sure it was OK when Reagan did it.  Now, back to the thread, already in progress!

It was a stupid non-problem created by Vance and Carlon and their ilk.  I don't seem to remember anybody complaining back in the day when Castro and Arafat showed up at official international functions wearing their combat green uniforms and sidearms.

[BobfromWB]

Bullshit! Do you really hate Trump that much?

47 hates the man who is fighting for his country's freedom and liberty. Trump does all he can to hurt their war effort. The only country that is trashing Russia's physical assets is Ukraine. 47 still admires Putin. There you have it.

Sorry you do not like my thoughts, but they are mine and not a media creation.

[Cyber Liberty]

It was a stupid non-problem created by Vance and Carlon and their ilk.  I don't seem to remember anybody complaining back in the day when Castro and Arafat showed up at official international functions wearing their combat green uniforms and sidearms.

I think we had commie Democrat Presidents at the time.  They love their terrorists and authoritarians!