Air Force Special Operations Command One‑Way‑Attack drone capability

The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance & Special Operations Forces Directorate has launched a market research effort to identify vendors capable of delivering a new class of unmanned air system.

The sought-after platform is an electromagnetic interference (EMI)‑- robust, one-way attack (OWA) drone that merges commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) parts with in-house custom components, including an electronic safe-and-arm device (ESAD).

The program, managed by the Special Warfare Office of the AFLCMC, is designed to meet the National Defense Authorization Act requirement that critical defense hardware avoid reliance on Chinese supply chains. In addition, the system must integrate Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation, 4G/LTE/5G cellular links, true frequency hopping across multiple bands, and an optional repeater that can extend its operational radius beyond 20 kilometers.

Capability gap drives the request

The Air Force Special Operations Command and its Special Tactics (ST) units currently lack a purpose‑built first‑person‑view (FPV) unmanned capability. Without such a system, ST teams are limited in employing FPV drones for “global access, precision strike and personnel‑recovery” missions, and they cannot standardize tactics, techniques and procedures for high‑intensity conflict.

The new drone would provide a “first‑person‑view one‑way‑attack” (FPV OWA) capability that can be operated by a single specialist within a Special Tactics Team (STT), providing real-time situational awareness while delivering a kinetic or electronic effect on a target.

Key technical requirements

EMI resilience: The airframe and control electronics must remain functional in the high‑interference environments typical of contested battle spaces.

One‑way‑attack architecture: The drone will transmit a payload (e.g., a directed‑energy burst or a small kinetic munition) without requiring a return communication link, minimizing exposure to enemy electronic warfare.

Hybrid component mix: Vendors are expected to combine readily available COTS radios, processors and sensors with AF‑developed ESAD and other security‑critical modules.

Communications suite: Multi‑band GPS, cellular (4G/LTE/5G) connectivity and frequency‑hopping spread‑spectrum radios to thwart jamming and interception.

Extended range: An optional repeater to push line‑of‑sight beyond 20 km, enabling deep‑strike missions from forward operating bases or aircraft.

Industry outreach and next steps

The market research notice invites both established defense contractors and emerging technology firms to submit capability statements.