The Pentagon awarded the American company Mistral Inc. a $982 million contract to supply kamikaze drones to the United States Army.
The hybrid contract (cost-no-fee and firm-fixed-price) was awarded through sole-source justification under the “public interest” provision in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-7, and is expected to be completed by September 29, 2030. The Army Contracting Command, based at Aberdeen Proving Ground (Maryland), is coordinating the contract under number W91CRB-25-D-A009; specific locations and funding will be determined for each individual order.
Although the Pentagon has not released technical specifications, Mistral is a strategic partner and exclusive representative in the US for Israeli company UVision, the manufacturer of the HERO family of loitering munition systems. These drones, also known as lethal unmanned systems, combine surveillance and strike functions: they patrol or loiter over a target area, providing real-time imagery, and when a target is confirmed, they dive to detonate on impact, offering precision and lower collateral damage risk compared to heavier weapons.
Experts and manufacturers emphasize that loitering munition systems are gaining traction due to their versatility and relatively low cost, being used against high-value targets, air defenses, armored vehicles, and command posts.
UVision and Mistral present the HERO line as scalable — with variants for infantry, special forces, and larger platforms such as vehicles and boats — promising greater operational flexibility and expanded decision windows for commanders in the field.
Source: Defence Blog | Photo: Instagram @mistral_group | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
