The US is creating a cheap Viper drone missile with the capabilities of ATACMS and Hellfire missiles
The American company Mach Industries is developing a new Viper drone missile inspired by Ukrainian approaches to combat drones, Defense Express reports.
The Viper is a vertical take-off and landing device that has the characteristics of both a cruise missile and a strike UAV. It will have a 10 kg warhead and will be able to hit targets at a distance of up to 290 km - this corresponds to the range of the American ATACMS operational-tactical missiles.
The developers position this device as a means of destruction that can operate at the company to brigade level, combining the speed of a cruise missile and the combat power of the AGM-114 Hellfire. One of the key features of the Viper is its price - less than $100 thousand per unit, which by American standards is considered a fairly budget solution compared to its counterparts.
The first test of the Viper prototype took place back in January 2025. The first production facilities have already been created, and the project is supported by a number of investors, including the US Army Applied Research Laboratory.
The Viper is expected to be able to hit artillery positions, radars and other priority targets, maintaining effectiveness even in the absence of GPS through the use of artificial intelligence and alternative navigation solutions.
Today, Ukraine is also developing this new class of weapons, which combines the characteristics of cruise missiles and drones. One of the latest developments is the Bars drone missile, created in 2024. It belongs to the medium-range weapons with a range of about 700–800 km and is capable of carrying a warhead weighing up to 50 kg. In terms of shape and principle of operation, the Bars resembles a small aircraft with a turbojet engine, which allows it to quickly cover long distances.
In addition to the Barsa, Ukraine has also developed other long-range drone missiles, including the Peklo, Palianytsia, and Ruta. They are manufactured with industrial simplicity in mind: a metal body, fixed wings, and a V-shaped tail structure. Navigation can be accomplished using satellite systems or inertial mechanisms.