Huntsville, Alabama-based Cummings Aerospace is preparing to submit its Hellhound loitering munition for the U.S. Army’s competition set to begin later this year. The company has recently completed flight tests of its turbo-jet powered, 3D-printed kamikaze drone.
In this month’s tests at the Pendleton Unmanned Aircraft Systems test range in Oregon, the S3 version of the Hellhound was evaluated against the Army’s preliminary Low Altitude Stalking and Striking Ordnance (LASSO) program requirements. CEO Sheila Cummings stated in an interview with Defense News that the company successfully demonstrated compliance with range requirements and achieved maximum flight speeds while integrating an inert warhead and testing critical subsystem functions.
The Hellhound stands out from other loitering munitions due to its turbojet propulsion, which offers increased speed and enhanced mission flexibility. Cummings noted that the engine can be throttled to extend either range or flight time.
During the tests, the loitering munition, which weighs less than 25 pounds, exceeded speeds of 350 miles per hour at half throttle and managed to cover 20 kilometers using only 50% of its fuel. The drone was tested under various challenging conditions, including wind, snow, and extremely low temperatures.
Established in 2009, Cummings Aerospace is a Native American woman-owned small business focused on aerospace engineering, including the design and development of capabilities like missiles, radars, and command-and-control systems. The Hellhound marks the company’s first major end-to-end weapon system.
Loitering munitions have demonstrated their effectiveness in conflict zones, such as Ukraine, where they are being utilized against Russian forces. The U.S. Army is also strategizing to procure more advanced loitering munitions in alignment with its Infantry Brigade Combat Teams’ capabilities.
In January, the Army released controlled but unclassified information regarding the LASSO program objectives through a notice on the federal business opportunities website, Sam.gov. Although the details of these objectives are not publicly available, compliance with modular and open systems architecture remains crucial.
Cummings emphasized that adhering to these standards has facilitated rapid design iterations through the use of 3D printing, enabling quicker testing and production of new vehicles. The company plans to submit its Hellhound offering to the Army’s competition, which is expected to see a formal request for proposals in May or June.
While the Army’s timeline for the program and the number of vendors selected for evaluation have not been disclosed, other manufacturers such as Aerovironment and Anduril are also anticipated to be part of the pool.
Cummings Aerospace is also exploring opportunities for the Hellhound in other programs, such as the Army’s short-range Launched Effects program, where the drone could potentially be launched from ground vehicles or air platforms. Cummings expressed confidence in the company’s solutions and infrastructure for supporting future production programs.
