U.S. Army Tests Drone-Delivered Braker Warhead

U.S. Army Infantry Drone Operators have successfully tested a new warhead designed to be delivered by an unmanned aerial system (UAS). The live-fire demonstration of the Bunker Rupture and Kinetic Explosive Round (BRAKER), which took place at a Redstone Arsenal in Alabama on March 26, comes only weeks after the initial design and rapid prototyping of the system Photo: U.S. Army/Eric Kowal

The United States Army has tested a new drone-delivered warhead known as the Braker system during a live-fire demonstration at Redstone Arsenal on March 26.

The test involved a bunker rupture and kinetic explosive round designed to be deployed from a small unmanned aerial system. The system was developed by teams from the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center and Project Manager Close Combat Systems. The programme focused on creating a lightweight warhead capable of being carried by low-cost, expendable drones.

According to the Army, the Braker system moved from initial design to live-fire testing within two weeks. Engineers began work in early March, using additive manufacturing techniques to design and produce components. This included explosive pressing, housing fabrication, and integration with a drone platform.

U.S. Army Colonel Vinson Morris, project manager of Project Manager Close Combat Systems, said, “Our Picatinny team went from concept to live-fire in two weeks. Braker proves our ability to rapidly develop and safely deliver devastating effects from small, unmanned aircraft systems. We are now creating the architecture with Picatinny Common Lethality Integration Kit and the small, universal payload interface for industry to scale this critical warfighter advantage.”

Initial compatibility and transfer tests were conducted at Picatinny Arsenal, where several prototype warheads were assembled. One was tested against a bunker target before the systems were sent to Redstone Arsenal for a demonstration to Army leadership.

The warhead is integrated using the Picatinny Common Lethality Integration Kit, which allows payloads to be fitted to different unmanned aerial platforms. The Army said this approach supports rapid adaptation of new payloads for operational use.

Anthony Sebasto, executive director of the Munitions Engineering and Technology Center, said, “Rapid demonstrations of overwhelming lethality, such as Braker, are attributed to years of continued technology investments and the organic core technical competencies and facilities resident at the [U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command] Armaments Center.”

The test demonstrated the ability of a drone to deliver and detonate the warhead against a target. The Army said the project reflects efforts to accelerate development timelines for new systems using existing research infrastructure and manufacturing methods.