Drone killer cartridge

Lore & Background

Drone killer cartridges were developed by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division for the United States Marine Corps. These cartridges are intended to make existing weapons more effective against the rapidly evolving threat of unmanned systems. The projectiles fired by these cartridges may be either segmented or pelletized. A segmented projectile separates into spin-stabilized sub-projectiles within the gun barrel prior to reaching the muzzle. A pelletized projectile contains a stack of high-density, spherical buckshot-sized pellets. The higher velocity of projectiles from rifle cartridges extends the range in comparison to shotgun cartridges. The smaller projectiles dispersed by these cartridges reduce the risk of collateral damage from projectiles that miss the target. Having been developed by the federal government, manufacturers are able to license the system for government and commercial sales. As of March 2026, no manufacturer had started commercial production, although several were in discussions.

Reader's Guide

The drone killer cartridge represents a targeted response to the challenge of disabling small unmanned aerial vehicles with existing infantry weapons. By adapting rifle, automatic rifle, or machine gun cartridges to disperse clusters of projectiles, the design increases the effective range beyond that of conventional shotguns. The two projectile types—segmented and pelletized—offer different mechanisms for achieving a spread of sub-projectiles, with the segmented type separating inside the barrel and the pelletized type releasing stacked buckshot-sized pellets. The higher velocity of rifle cartridges is key to extending engagement range. A notable aspect is the reduction of collateral damage risk from missed shots, as the smaller projectiles are less hazardous beyond the target area. The development by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division for the United States Marine Corps achieved a 92% success rate against drone targets. Although the system is available for licensing to manufacturers for both government and commercial sales, as of March 2026 no commercial production had begun, with only discussions underway. This indicates the technology is still in a pre-commercial phase despite proven effectiveness in testing.

Did You Know?

• The drone killer cartridge achieved a 92% success rate against drone targets in testing by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division.
• Projectiles may be segmented, separating into spin-stabilized sub-projectiles inside the gun barrel, or pelletized, containing stacked buckshot-sized pellets.
• The higher velocity of rifle cartridges extends the range compared to shotgun cartridges.