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U.S. Special Operations Command is looking for air-launched, one-way-attack drones with an extended range of at least 75 nautical miles, according to a new Request for Information (RFI) released this week.
SOCOM's interest in long-range kamikaze drones reflects a broader shift in special operations tactics. Traditional special operations missions often required insertion deep into enemy territory, exposing operators to significant risk. Long-range drones allow SOCOM to project lethal effects without exposing manned aircraft to air defense systems.
This capability is particularly important in the Indo-Pacific, where vast distances and contested airspace make traditional special operations insertions increasingly difficult. A drone that can fly 75+ nautical miles from a launch platform gives SOCOM operators a significant reach advantage.
Several defense contractors are likely to respond to the RFI, including companies that have previously developed loitering munitions for SOCOM. The Altius family of drones (developed by AeroVironment and others) has been a staple of SOCOM's unmanned arsenal, and the new RFI represents an evolution of that capability.
The 75-nautical-mile range requirement suggests that SOCOM is looking for something significantly beyond current loitering munitions, which typically have ranges of 20-40 miles. This would position the new systems more in the realm of short-range cruise missiles.
SOCOM's push for long-range kamikaze drones signals that special operations are evolving to meet great power competition. As potential adversaries develop increasingly sophisticated air defense networks, the ability to strike from beyond enemy reach becomes a force multiplier for special operations forces.