Originally developed to transport supplies on the battlefield, the Army has recently tested a new function for its drone: launching rockets.
At Fort Rucker in Alabama, defense collaborators successfully equipped a Tactical Resupply Vehicle, or TRV 150 drone, with a three-shot weapon system to test the firing of 70 millimeter rockets, as per an Army announcement on Tuesday. This enhancement is intended to augment the capabilities available to the command’s lower levels.
Clark Dutterer, the vice president of business development at Survice Engineering which manufactures the drone, explained, “Typically, the industry awaits government specifications before creating solutions that meet those needs. However, in this instance, we recognized an opportunity to develop a new functionality and chose to self-finance this initiative rather than waiting for official requirements.”
The TRV 150, a logistical drone capable of carrying up to 150 lbs, is utilized by both the Army and the Marine Corps. Rob Baltrusch, the chief engineer of the company, described the drone as akin to the sky’s “pickup truck,” highlighting in the release that its reliance on autonomous navigation significantly reduces the need for pilot intervention by the soldier.
“Soldiers can assign a grid coordinate to the drone, wait, and then the system will confirm if the destination is reachable, deliver the cargo, and plan the flight path,” Baltrusch stated.
The weapon system used, known as the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS), is also mounted on Apache helicopters. If successful on drones, it could be implemented more broadly across various military formations.
The Army revealed that this project has been underway since January 2025, and by May, the weapon system had successfully launched using a single-shot launcher.
This recent testing is part of a broader effort by military leaders to accelerate drone development and simplify the deployment process.
To adapt to the rapid advancements in unmanned aircraft technology, the Pentagon established the Joint Interagency Task Force 401 in 2025 to unify the acquisition strategies across different military branches. Moreover, a drone testing facility is currently being developed in Mississippi.
Additionally, a counter-drone marketplace was launched, enabling the U.S. and its allies to access and purchase compatible technologies.
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Jamal Peterson reports on defense, aerospace, and tech policy. With a military background and a strategic mind, he dissects complex subjects with clarity, offering readers sharp, reliable insights.
