US startup launches turbojet strike drone

Cummings Aerospace, a U.S. defense firm based in Huntsville, Alabama, has introduced a new line of loitering munitions that could reshape battlefield tactics.

In a recent episode of The Merge podcast, company founder and CEO Sheila Cummings revealed key details about the Hellhound S3—a lightweight, jet-powered kamikaze drone designed for rapid, precision strikes.

According to the company, it reached speeds of over 350 miles per hour during testing, traveling 20 kilometers on just half its fuel.

“Any part that isn’t 3D printed is commercial off-the-shelf,” Cummings said during the podcast, underscoring the firm’s approach to scalability and logistical efficiency.

Unlike slower propeller-driven loitering drones like the Switchblade, Hellhound uses a turbojet engine, offering speed and maneuverability advantages in contested airspace. The S3 variant has already completed several successful test flights and demonstrations and is now in submission for the U.S. Army’s Low Altitude Stalking and Strike Ordnance (LASSO) program.

The LASSO initiative seeks to rapidly field precision-guided loitering munitions to infantry brigades. It mandates participating companies deliver 135 production units and 35 prototypes under an accelerated acquisition schedule.

In a surprise announcement during the podcast, Cummings unveiled a new variant, the Hellhound S4. This upgraded model is tube-launched, larger, and offers improved performance over its predecessor.

Hellhound’s presence at SOF Week 2025 in Tampa, Florida, marked the drone’s first public appearance. The system’s performance, paired with its adaptable, low-cost design, positions it as a contender in a crowded market of tactical drone solutions.

As noted by Cummings Aerospace, the company’s decision to launch its own product after years of government support work reflects a growing confidence in the private sector’s ability to drive innovation in military technology.