“Anti-aircraft drones” are becoming a global trend: the Pentagon ordered the first large batch

“Anti-aircraft drones”, which have recently been actively used by the Defense Forces of Ukraine, are becoming a global trend. The Pentagon has already started ordering similar systems for the needs of the American army, writes Defense Express.

So, the American company Anduril received an order for the Roadrunner-M anti-aircraft drone and the Pulsar EW complexes. Within the framework of the contract with a total value of almost 250 million dollars, it is planned to deliver 500 Roadrunner-M interceptors and an undisclosed number of EW devices until the end of 2025. As the company said, these systems will be deployed “in priority regions where US forces face significant threats from UAVs”.

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As Defense Express notes, Roadrunner-M is something in between a jet drone (because can return to the base) and an anti-aircraft missile (because it is designed to hit air targets). To some extent, this drone can be considered reusable: if it fails to hit an aerial target, it turns back and sits vertically.

The exact cost of one drone remains a mystery, but it is definitely less than $500,000, because the contract with The Pentagon for 250 million provides for the purchase of Pulsar EW complexes as well. But even at a price of 500,000 dollars, the Roadrunner-M would still be cheaper than the missile for the Stinger portable anti-aircraft missile system: it costs about 800,000.

However, as experts note, the cost of the Roadrunner-M is one should be even smaller if his task is to fight against other drones.