Baowolf C-UAS munition to start USAF trials in Q3 2025

Kinard Technologies Baowolf single-use munition in under-barrel configuration. (Kinard Technologies)

Counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) maker Kinard Technologies is making significant progress towards full-scale production of its Baowolf munition, CEO Dane Pigott has told Janes .

Kinard describes Baowolf as a single-use ‘last line of defence' C-UAS weapon, primarily intended to stop the kind of first-person view (FPV) attacks on troops that have become widely seen on social media from fighting in Ukraine.

Weighing 1.13 kg, the 3D-printed system houses a single steel barrel that fires the equivalent of eight shotgun cartridges' worth of tungsten steel pellets in a single shot. This enables the munition to engage fast-moving drones within a 50 m range, said Kinard. At 20 m, the system provides a 2 m-wide shot pattern against fast-moving FPV UASs. The system has a simple safety catch towards its front and a trigger mechanism at its rear that can be operated in under a second.

The Baowolf can also fill trench-clearing and counter-ambush roles in under-barrel or standalone configurations. The system is now entering full-scale production and beginning trials with US and NATO allies at a current estimated cost of USD5,000 per unit, Pigott said. He added that there is significant scope to bring down these costs through advancements in 3D printing technology.

The US Air Force (USAF) is due to trial the system from the third quarter (Q3) of 2025, with a pack including three single-use munitions, a standalone mount, and a carry case. This particular configuration will be deployed in light vehicle units patrolling airbases and protecting strategic aircraft assets. The system is also being marketed for government use, protecting people seen as high-value targets at civilian and political events.