📡 NEWS BRIEF — MARCH 2026
Tactical UAS • Special Operations • FPV Drones
AFSOC Seeks Backpack-Sized FPV Attack Drones with 12+ Mile Range
The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s ISR & Special Operations Forces Directorate posted a Request for Information (RFI) on March 18 seeking one-way attack drones capable of fitting in a standard military backpack while delivering fragmentation or penetrator-style munitions on targets more than 12 miles (19+ km) away.
Requirements
Form Factor: Man-portable, backpack-compatible for special operations insertion.
Range: Minimum 12 miles standoff capability with one-way attack profile.
Payload: Fragmentation and penetrator warhead options for hard and soft targets.
Tactical Significance
This RFI reflects the SOF community’s urgent demand for organic precision strike at the tactical edge. The 12-mile range requirement pushes beyond typical commercial FPV capabilities, suggesting AFSOC envisions a hybrid between loitering munition and FPV drone. This represents a significant market opportunity for companies bridging the gap between Group 1 UAS and traditional loitering munitions.
📎 Sources
• Air & Space Forces Magazine — “Air Force Special Ops Wants FPV Drones That Can Fit in Backpack” (Mar 18, 2026)
#AFSOC #FPV #AttackDrone #SpecialOps #LoiteringMunition #USAF #TacticalUAS
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