3D-Printed Kamikaze drone Completes Flight on U.S. Army Test Range

Cummings Aerospace's Hellhound S3, a turbojet-powered, 3D-printed kamikaze drone that flies faster than 375 mph, completed a demonstration at the Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiment (AEWE) 2025.

The demonstration marked a milestone: the Hellhound S3's first flight on a U.S. Army test range, validating the S3's ability to operate in a tactically relevant environment, according to Cummings Aerospace.

Hellhound S3 is an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) designed to equip the U.S. Army's Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCTs) with the same combat power as Armored Brigades, enabling precise, long-range strikes against tanks, armored vehicles and fortified positions, according to Cummings Aerospace.

"Hellhound's performance at AEWE 2025 highlighted a fundamental reality—speed matters, and quadcopters and prop-driven drones take too long to get downrange," says Sheila Cummings, CEO of Cummings Aerospace. "While quadcopters and propeller-driven drones will still be puttering along behind friendly lines, Hellhound will already be over the target area, giving IBCTs the ability to strike faster, reach deeper into the battlespace, and decisively engage fleeting, time-sensitive targets."

The demonstration also enabled Cummings Aerospace engineers to gather feedback from warfighters.

About Hellhound

=Powered by a turbojet engine, Hellhound S3 demonstrated a speed of 384 mph during a series of tests in early January.

The Hellhound ombines 3D printing and U.S. Department of Defense-approved commercial components to reduce production costs, simplify logistics and deliver advanced capabilities at lower costs than traditional systems.

All-up round (vehicle, launch canister and ground control system) weighs less than 25 pounds, allowing single-Soldier deployment and enhancing Infantry mobility.

Modular design supports warhead, electronic warfare, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance payloads.

Soldiers can field-swap payloads in less than 5 minutes without tools.

On the Horizon

In the coming months, Cummings Aerospace will:

• Conduct additional flight tests of the Hellhound S3 to bring the entire system to TRL-7.
• Submit a proposal formally offering Hellhound to the U.S. Army's Low Altitude Stalking and Strike Ordnance (LASSO) program.
• Conduct demonstrations and tests of Hellhound for other customers.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.