The United States Army has begun training with Hornet kamikaze drones, a model used by Ukrainian forces in the conflict against Russia.
The unmanned aircraft, equipped with artificial intelligence capabilities, is being integrated into military exercises held in different European countries, showing American interest in technologies already tested in real combat.
The most recent activities took place at training areas in Lithuania, Poland, and Germany. Soldiers from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment participated in launches of the system during military maneuvers, including the Saber Strike 26 exercise. The simultaneous use of the Hornet in several countries indicates that the drone is being incorporated more broadly into NATO operations and training.
Developed by the American company Swift Beat, linked to former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, the Hornet is a fixed-wing drone designed to strike military vehicles and concentrations of enemy troops at long distances. Although its official range has not been disclosed, estimates point to an operational capability of between 100 and 150 kilometers, as well as a warhead of up to 5 kilograms.
In the war in Ukraine, the system has mainly been used to target Russian logistics routes and equipment in occupied regions. Ukrainian units, such as the 1st Azov Corps of the National Guard, use the drone in attacks in the Donetsk region and in strategic areas such as Horlivka, Lysychansk, and Starobesheve. Among Russian soldiers, the equipment is said to have been nicknamed “Martian-2”.
Source: Militarnyi | Photo: X @DylanMalyasov | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
