U.S. Military Clears Purchase of Cerberus MI Drone Armed With 40mm Grenade Launcher or Shotgun.

The Cerberus MI small unmanned aircraft system has been officially added to the Blue UAS Cleared List, providing U.S. military buyers with an approved procurement option for a reusable armed drone. Engineered by Skyborne Technologies USA, the Group 2 aircraft is designed to deliver direct fire using interchangeable weapon payloads and return for reloading, offering a multi-role kinetic capability across defense departments without requiring an exception to policy.

Skyborne Technologies’ Cerberus MI reusable armed drone in flight. The aircraft has been added to the Blue UAS Cleared List for U.S. military procurement.(Photo credit: Skyborne Technologies)

A New Option for Reusable Unmanned Strike Capabilities

The clearance gives U.S. forces another option for delivering direct fire from an unmanned aircraft while retaining the asset for subsequent missions. Skyborne Technologies USA announced the listing from McLean, Virginia, noting that inclusion on the cleared list permits procurement and operation across the U.S. Department of War/Defense.

The listing followed an independent assessment of cybersecurity, supply-chain security, and Foreign Ownership, Control or Influence (FOCI) against the strict Blue UAS standard. The Cerberus MI also meets all applicable National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) requirements. While the Defense Contract Management Agency manages this cleared list to address acquisition eligibility and security requirements, the initial announcement provides no separate results from military operational testing or direct procurement orders.

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Technical Analysis and Capabilities Comparison

Described as an AI-enabled, multi-role kinetic small unmanned aircraft, the Cerberus MI features an airframe specifically engineered around the recoil generated by direct-fire weapons, rather than being adapted from a commercial drone design. Weapon recoil is a major integration challenge in drone development because it directly affects aircraft stability, pointing accuracy, and the ability to maintain a steady firing position.

The aircraft accommodates interchangeable weapon payloads, including the HAVOC 40mm low-velocity system and the CHAOS 12-gauge weapon system. These systems use standard ammunition in their respective calibers, allowing military teams to quickly rearm the aircraft between sorties. Skyborne’s EXITUS AI onboard targeting software combines electro-optical, infrared, and laser-rangefinder data to calculate accurate firing solutions. The software supports targeting through a strict human-in-the-loop engagement process, meaning the announcement does not establish autonomous authority to select and engage targets without an operator.

With a manufacturer-quoted weight of 39.7 pounds (approximately 18 kg), the Cerberus MI is fully man-portable. Its stated flight endurance of roughly 35 minutes with a weapon fitted suggests short-duration armed missions, though time over a target will depend on transit distance, payload configuration, weather, and local operating conditions.

Strategic Impact on Military Logistics and Sorties

The reusable design distinguishes the Cerberus MI from expendable strike drones or loitering munitions. Its intended operating cycle involves launch, engagement, recovery, reloading, and subsequent sorties, allowing the same airframe to deliver kinetic effects repeatedly if it survives and can be successfully recovered under battlefield conditions.

This repeatable approach could reduce aircraft consumption rates during sustained engagements, though its precise economic advantage remains unquantified. Skyborne claims a low cost per shot and greater magazine depth, but the current disclosure supplies no acquisition price, maintenance costs, or exact sortie-generation data. Ultimately, its operational value will depend on accuracy under recoil, resistance to electronic warfare, communications reliability, and the feasibility of recovering the aircraft in active combat zones. The Blue UAS listing removes the primary acquisition barrier, while the scale of future U.S. military purchases remains undisclosed.

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Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.