Shotgun-armed drone added to Pentagon's approved purchase list

Skyborne Technologies' Cerberus MI is designed to withstand the recoil of its weapons, offering a reusable alternative to one-way attack drones

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published27 October 2026

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Illustration: Shotgun-armed drone added to Pentagon's approved purchase list

The Pentagon has approved a drone armed with a shotgun and grenade launcher for purchase by the US military and federal agencies, adding Skyborne Technologies' Cerberus MI to its Blue UAS List of vetted uncrewed systems.

The AI-enabled Cerberus MI, a small man-portable unmanned aircraft system, was added to the list earlier this month. The company said the drone was purpose-built to absorb the recoil of a CHAOS 12-gauge shotgun, rather than simply mounting a weapon on a commercial drone. It can also carry a HAVOC 40mm low-velocity grenade launcher.

According to Skyborne, the aircraft weighs about 40 pounds, has a flight time of roughly 35 minutes when armed, and can engage targets at a range of over 300 meters. Operators can send the drone into action, fire its weapons, and then fly it back for reloading. The company describes it as a reusable alternative to one-way attack systems that are typically destroyed after striking a target.

The Blue UAS List, established in 2020, helps the Department of Defense and other agencies identify drones that meet government standards, particularly regarding cybersecurity and supply chain security. A major focus is restricting Chinese-made components; according to the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International, Chinese companies control 90 percent of the commercial drone market, a concentration US officials have raised concerns about.

Skyborne is not alone in developing shotgun-armed drones. Ukrainian company 3DTech has built a six-barrel recoilless shotgun system for shooting down enemy drones, while Federal Ammunition, Mossberg, and Palladyne AI are collaborating on the SwarmShot project.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

The approval signals US military interest in reusable armed drones that can be recovered and rearmed, potentially shifting tactics away from expendable munitions.
Shotgun-armed drones could provide a new tool for countering enemy drones, a role currently filled by infantry with shotguns in conflicts such as Ukraine.
The addition to the Blue UAS List streamlines procurement, accelerating the deployment of new drone technology to troops.

Background

The Blue UAS program was launched by the Pentagon in 2020 to certify drones that meet US government cybersecurity and supply chain requirements. Last year, the Defense Contract Management Agency launched a website cataloging approved models, aiming to speed up fielding of uncrewed systems. The list is part of a broader push to integrate drones into military operations while excluding components from Chinese manufacturers, which dominate the global commercial drone market.

What to Watch

How quickly the Cerberus MI enters operational use and whether it is adopted by other federal agencies.
Potential further development of reusable armed drones as alternatives to one-way attack systems.
Countermeasures that may emerge as drone-mounted shotguns and grenade launchers become more common in military arsenals.

Sources

The Pentagon has given a new shotgun-wielding drone its stamp of approval. It also comes with a grenade launcher. · Business Insider

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedThe Pentagon added the shotgun-armed Cerberus MI to its list of systems approved for purchase by the US military and federal agencies.All Content from Business Insider: “A drone armed with a shotgun has been added to the Pentagon's list of uncrewed systems approved for purchase by the US military and other federal agencies.”
Partly supportedThe Pentagon approved the Cerberus MI for purchase with both a shotgun and a grenade launcher fitted.All Content from Business Insider: “A drone armed with a shotgun has been added to the Pentagon's list of uncrewed systems approved for purchase by the US military and other federal agencies. [...] In addition to the shotgun, Cerberus MI can also be equipped to carry a HAVOC 40mm low-velocity grenade launcher.”
SupportedThe Cerberus MI was designed to absorb the recoil of its weapons.All Content from Business Insider: “The drone is a small, man-portable UAS that the company says was specifically designed to absorb the recoil of attached weapons.”
Partly supportedThe Cerberus MI offers a reusable alternative to one-way attack drones.All Content from Business Insider: “According to Skyborne, that makes it a reusable alternative to one-way attack systems that are typically destroyed after striking a target.”
SupportedSkyborne's AI-enabled Cerberus MI was added to the Blue UAS List earlier this month.All Content from Business Insider: “Earlier this month, Skyborne Technologies' AI-enabled Cerberus MI was approved for the Blue UAS List.”
SupportedSkyborne designed the aircraft with the recoil of a CHAOS 12-gauge shotgun in mind, rather than simply mounting a shotgun on a commercial drone.All Content from Business Insider: “Instead of simply mounting a shotgun on a commercial, off-the-shelf drone, Skyborne purposefully designed and built the aircraft with the recoil of a CHAOS 12-gauge shotgun in mind.”
SupportedThe Cerberus MI can carry a HAVOC 40mm low-velocity grenade launcher.All Content from Business Insider: “In addition to the shotgun, Cerberus MI can also be equipped to carry a HAVOC 40mm low-velocity grenade launcher.”
SupportedThe aircraft weighs about 40 pounds.All Content from Business Insider: “The company says the aircraft weighs about 40 pounds”
SupportedThe aircraft can fly for roughly 35 minutes when armed.All Content from Business Insider: “can fly for roughly 35 minutes when armed”
SupportedThe aircraft can engage targets at a range of over 300 meters.All Content from Business Insider: “and engage targets at a range of over 300 meters.”
SupportedThe Blue UAS program was established in 2020.All Content from Business Insider: “The Pentagon's Blue UAS program was established in 2020”
SupportedChinese companies control 90 percent of the commercial drone market, according to the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International.All Content from Business Insider: “According to the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International, Chinese companies control 90% of the commercial drone market.”