Ukrainian operators recently tested and defeated drones with the Drone Round—a purpose-built 5.56 NATO and 7.62 NATO counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) cartridge that requires no firearm modifications, no new equipment and no additional training. The loads were developed by U.S.-based Drone Round Defense—which is backed by parent companies Freedom Munitions, Unlimited Ammo and Ammo Load—for military use.
A video of the troops defeating drones with the cartridge has gone viral. The footage, which has circulated widely across defense and military communities online, shows drone threats—including the kind of low-cost, fast-moving UAS that have redefined modern warfare in Ukraine—being neutralized with nothing more than an ammunition change.
Ukraine has become the world's most visible proving ground for drone warfare. Small UAS are used daily for reconnaissance, direct attack and munitions delivery. They have exposed a critical gap in standard infantry capabilities.
Traditional ball ammunition was not designed for fast-moving aerial targets. Electronic jamming doesn't work against fiber-optic-controlled drones. The Drone Round was built to fill that gap and serves as the last line of defense in a multi-layer defensive system.
How It Works
Drone Round is a multi-projectile cartridge available in 5.56 NATO and 7.62 NATO. It delivers a controlled dispersion pattern at the muzzle, dramatically increasing hit probability while minimizing collateral risk. It drops directly into standard magazines and belt-fed systems with no firearm modifications.
Unlike electronic jamming or directed-energy systems, it is a kinetic solution effective against controlled drones that have no radio signal to jam and fills a critical capability gap the conflict in Ukraine.
Loads include a 5.56 K variant with eight projectiles (effective to 50 meters), the 5.56 L variant with five projectiles (effective to 100 meters) and a 7.62 variant being released soon with and effective range of 300+ meters.
Technical Specs
- Muzzle velocity: ~2,200 fps
- Compatibility: Standard magazines and belt-fed systems
- Suppressor-compatible
- Sourcing & manufacturing: 100-percent U.S.-based; up to 350 million rounds per year production capacity
- Standards compliance: SAAMI, ISO, mil-spec (NATO certification pending)
Compared to 12-gauge alternatives, 5.56 NATO and 7.62 NATO platforms deliver nearly double the velocity, reducing required lead distance. Compared to electronic or directed-energy C-UAS systems, no additional equipment, power source or spectrum management is required.
Drone Round has been demonstrated in coordination with multiple U.S. military and defense innovation organizations, including Army and Special Operations stakeholders, as part of ongoing efforts to evaluate scalable counter-UAS solutions at the tactical level.
Editor’s Note: Drone Rounds are for military and government agency use. The Federal Aviation Administration considers drones to be an aircraft. Shooting one down, including a UAS, can result in serious criminal charges, including fines and possibly jail time.
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