President Trump’s Navy equips sailors with revolutionary ‘Drone Killer’ ammo, turning standard rifles into swarm-crushing weapons amid surging global drone threats.
Story Highlights
- NSWC Crane’s Drone Killer Cartridge (DKC) transforms Navy rifles into effective anti-drone shotguns using segmented and pelletized rounds.
- Low-cost retrofit counters cheap drone swarms, preserving expensive missiles like $1M SeaRAM for major threats.
- Announced February 11, 2026, DKC boosts sailor self-defense without collateral damage in modern warfare.
- Responds to Ukraine lessons and Navy vulnerabilities, like Phalanx CIWS depleting after ~60 drones.
- Aligns with Trump administration’s focus on strong national defense and military innovation.
DKC Development and Design
Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division developed the Drone Killer Cartridge family for US Navy rifles. Segmented variants self-separate into three projectiles per round, mimicking shotgun dispersal against unmanned aerial systems. Pelletized options provide broad coverage for close-range threats. NSWC Crane engineers prioritized compatibility with existing standard rifles, enabling quick sailor deployment without new hardware. Public announcement occurred on February 11, 2026, marking operational readiness. This innovation addresses rising small drone attacks in naval operations.
Rising Drone Threats Drive Innovation
Russia’s 2022 Ukraine invasion highlighted cheap commercial drones striking personnel and armor, reshaping tactics worldwide. Navy systems like Phalanx CIWS hold only 1,550 rounds, vulnerable to swarms exceeding 60 drones. SeaRAM missiles cost nearly $1 million each, unsuitable for low-value targets at $10,000 per unit flying 110-130 knots. Mk 38 cannons face elevation limits against overhead threats. DOD accelerated counter-UAS efforts, including Army’s November 2025 MK19 grenade launcher solicitation for air-burst ammo. Global proliferation, like Bayraktar tests, demands affordable individual-level defenses.
Strategic Advantages Over Legacy Systems
DKC offers high-probability UAS defeats at minimal cost and logistics burden, unlike multimillion-dollar interceptors. Segmented rounds boost hit rates while minimizing collateral to nearby assets or personnel. Sailors gain personal anti-drone capability, conserving Phalanx and SeaRAM for peer-level threats. Naval Postgraduate School models predict swarm breakthroughs even with enhanced CIWS, validating distributed rifle-based solutions. This preserves ammo stocks during prolonged engagements, enhancing ship survivability. Trump-era focus on efficient defense spending amplifies such practical innovations.
Historical precedents include early 20th-century Navy unmanned experiments and 1970s DARPA prototypes, evolving into today’s necessities. Congress provides oversight through CRS reports on C-UAS programs, ensuring fiscal responsibility.
Stakeholders and Broader Impacts
NSWC Crane leads development, with US Navy as primary end-user for shipboard integration. US Army pursues parallel MK19 upgrades, signaling DOD-wide shift. Motivations center on countering drone asymmetry without depleting high-end stocks. Short-term, sailors receive immediate tools for swarm defense; long-term, it influences naval tactics globally. Economic benefits include reduced logistics from cheap retrofits. Political strength bolsters deterrence, learned from Ukraine and peer rivals. Industry sees spurred contracts for bursting ammo technologies.
New ‘Drone Killer’ Ammo Gives US Navy Rifles a Shotgun Punch vs. UAVs
Expert analyses from USNI Proceedings critique legacy limits, like Phalanx’s 25 rounds per drone, aligning with DKC’s conservation approach. No major contradictions exist; consensus urges such urgency post-Ukraine. Under President Trump, this fortifies American sailors against foreign aggressors eroding our naval edge.
Sources:
New ‘Drone Killer’ Ammo Gives US Navy Rifles a Shotgun Punch vs. UAVs
Army seeks industry input on 40mm ammunition to defeat drones
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles | Naval History
