Since September 29, 2025, Russian forces have increasingly documented sightings of the Hornet loitering munition. The system reportedly incorporates US-developed technology and is typically equipped with a small Ukrainian-made HE-FRAG or shaped-charge warhead from the UYa and MOA series of standard Ukrainian warheads.
The Hornet’s targeting architecture combines human operator control with autonomous optical target acquisition functions. This enables the operator to designate a specific target and initiate a choose-and-forget attack sequence, during which the loitering munition autonomously dives toward the target without further manual guidance. Target acquisition and tracking are performed by the munition’s onboard optical and electronic systems, enabling accurate engagement of both stationary and moving targets.
The Hornet has been documented operating in both Russian territory and Russian-occupied areas, primarily targeting Russian logistical vehicles and supply-related assets.
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