From the foxhole to flight: Armaments Center’s MALET turns standard rounds into drone munitions

PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. – The ever-evolving Unmanned Aerial Systems toolbox has grown even stronger with the introduction of the Munitions Air-dropped L… PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. – The ever-evolving Unmanned Aerial Systems toolbox has grown even stronger with the introduction of the Munitions Air-dropped Lethal Effects Tool (MALET), developed by the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Armaments Center. The MALET is a kit which converts munitions so that they can be dropped as part of unmanned aerial system (UAS) deployment. Instead of having to procure purpose-built munitions on drones, Soldiers will be able to use rounds which they have in abundance already, such as 60mm and 81mm mortar rounds. Work on MALET began in 2024 when experts at the Armaments Center’s Fuze and Mortar Divisions recognized a critical opportunity: rather than introducing new munitions to the battlefield, soldiers could benefit from a capability to safely drop existing munitions without having to perform field modifications or manually remove safety mechanisms.

The team saw the project through with input from the Energetics and Warheads Directorate. The kit adds fuze function and ensures the aerodynamic stability required for a drone drop of the cartridge. Additionally, integrating MALET is a non-destructive process, so clipping on the kit does not compromise the mortar, nor does removing the kit. As such, if a munition is