PDW’s C100 quadcopter, which has additionally been acquired by the U.S. Military, was used to securely lase targets from a standoff vary, demonstrating a brand new joint fires functionality.
Efficiency Drone Works (PDW), a U.S. AI and drone expertise firm, revealed final month an “natural unmanned aerial system (UAS) fireplace help check” the place its proprietary C100 quadcopter-type multipurpose drone was paired with a U.S. Air Power F-35A Lightning II. Utilizing a Leonardo STAG5 Laser Goal Designator (LTD) mounted beneath the C100, the UAS “efficiently guided 4 inert GBU-12 Paveway II precision munitions launched from F-35 to predetermined targets,” PDW mentioned on Jul. 23, 2025.
The corporate launched the footage of the check on Aug. 12, exhibiting the inert GBU-12s touchdown on a goal, with the C100 lasing it from progressively longer ranges at 1000, 1,500 and a couple of,000 meters and capturing the influence on all three cases. Whereas the F-35A isn’t seen releasing the GBU-12, the start of the promotional video exhibits each the jet and the C100 in a single body, the place the jet streaks overhead at low altitude, and the latter is way decrease within the foreground.
One operator. One drone. Precision F-35 focusing on from cowl – no different plane required. #C100 pic.twitter.com/wtZ4NGsV9L
— PDW (@PDW_ai) August 12, 2025
We reached out to PDW for extra particulars concerning the check, however on the time of writing now we have not but obtained a response and we are going to replace this text as soon as now we have extra information.
PDW’s Group 2-class C100 UAS can be discovering use within the U.S. Military. The service introduced on Aug. 3, 2025 its 173rd Airborne Brigade is buying 4 PDW C100 drones and a “fleet of custom-built first-person view (FPV) drones” in keeping with the newest traits in land warfare.
Unmanned precision within the discipline. Placing the #C100 and our newest capabilities by their paces. #PDW #UAS pic.twitter.com/aSHnnPVrz6
— PDW (@PDW_ai) July 29, 2025
In truth, Troopers from the 173rd AB’s 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment designed, assembled and repaired many drone parts utilizing 3D-printing and soldering. For the C100, additionally they constructed grenade launchers and payload attachments for tactical battlefield supply/logistics.
The C100 pushes the boundaries of what’s attainable on the battlefield.
U.S. Secretary of Protection @SecDef @PeteHegseth and Polish Deputy Prime Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz visited the Military Prepositioned Shares-2 (APS-2) website in Powidz, Poland the place PDW’s C100 was showcased… pic.twitter.com/zGsIjYIt6k
— PDW (@PDW_ai) February 16, 2025
The check
The Air Power has not launched any data on the check with the F-35. Nevertheless, PDW’s description of the parameters and meant impacts suggests a capability to permit ahead Joint Terminal Assault Controllers (JTAC) to extra safely coordinate Shut Air Help (CAS) and airstrikes from standoff distances.
“This train demonstrated the power of an operator to securely mark targets from a standoff vary with the C100 for joint fires capabilities with out want for supporting plane,” PDW mentioned in its press launch. Which means the F-35A, which can’t be anticipated to fly at decrease altitudes to visually establish land targets, doesn’t need to depend on different low-flying plane or bigger drones for that perform.
As an illustration, a June 2024 bilateral U.S.-Philippine live-fire drill noticed Marine F-35Bs dropping GBU-32 JDAMS on floating targets, after they had been recognized by Philippine Navy drones and a C-130. Then again, within the PDW check, for the three separate engagements at ranges of 1,000, 1,500, and a couple of,000 meters between the C100 and the goal, the C100 loitered for roughly 35 minutes and was separated by 3 km from the operator, capturing “an in depth visible description, enabling fast goal acquisition.”
The Paveway II is a steering equipment changing Mk.80 bombs right into a precision munition, on this case a Mk.82 500 pound bomb in a GBU-12, and has a spread of greater than 14.8 km. The Paveway II Plus model, that’s discipline programmable and gives improved accuracy, will also be put in on the Mk.84 2,000 pound bomb, turning into the GBU-10, and Mk.83 1,000 pound bomb, turning into the GBU-16.
Screengrabs of the check’s video confirmed the GBU-12s putting the land targets one after the opposite. The F-35A can carry GBU-12s each in its inside weapons bays and externally on the underwing pylons.
On this case, the jet may need carried one GBU-12 inside every of the bays, and the opposite two underneath the wings, or all fours externally, though two F-35s may need been current and never just one. On Feb. 25, 2016, F-35As from the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings primarily based at Hill AFB, Utah, turned the firsts from an operational F-35 Lightning II fight unit to drop GBU-12s.
Utility
PDW mentioned that the C100 is an “natural fires platform” that extends troopers’ effectiveness with a flexible payload suite supporting ISR, goal designation, and kinetic results. “That is the second in a collection of demonstrations aimed to show the C100 as the final word natural fires platform,” PDW CEO and co-founder Ryan Gury mentioned within the press launch. “The C100 gives an enormous leap in tactical flexibility for the warfighter and PDW is able to equip our forces with a system that may present that help throughout varied domains.”
The demonstration with the F-35 validated the C100’s capability to permit “integrating LTD functionality for fast goal handoff to oblique fireplace, shut air help, and maritime platforms.” As a stand-off focusing on answer, the C100’s “natural precision lasing from prolonged ranges” reduces publicity of ground-based JTAC groups to adversary detection. They’re additional away from the goal, with the drone offering the laser designation, whereas additionally permitting the F-35’s stealth capabilities for use in land strike conditions.
C100
The U.S. Military press launch concerning the annual multinational Agile Spirit 25, held at Norio Coaching Space in Georgia on Aug. 2, 2025, mentioned the C100 has a spread of as much as 10 kilometers and a flight endurance of 74 minutes. “The PDW C100 permits small items to push provides or conduct reconnaissance deep into the battlespace with out sustaining line-of-sight; a bonus particularly vital in mountainous or contested terrain,” the assertion added.
The drone is supported by 4 lengthy legs for touchdown, 4 fold-out arms every carrying a two-bladed rotor, and is transportable sufficient to be accommodated on the again of a land tactical automobile. The U.S. Military’s press launch quoted Workers Sgt. Nathaniel Daniels, platoon sergeant, who mentioned the PDW C100 expands even additional on the tactical use instances.
“At this time, we noticed the PDW C100 mission units, in a position to drop speedballs or any [medical] provides to a essential or ahead support station,” Daniels defined. “If the mission is past 2 or 3 kilometers, we will add the mission, and the drone will full it autonomously and return.
PDW’s web site and YouTube movies present the C100 having the ability to carry quite a lot of EO (Electro-Optical) sensors, small gravity bombs, tactical resupply payloads and being a mothership to smaller FPV drones and UGV (Unmanned Floor Autos), assembly the full-range of logistics, ISR and strike wants.
PDW introduced on Dec. 23, 2024 touchdown a $15.3 million contract from the U.S. Military’s for the C100 in help of its ‘Transformation in Contact’ initiative. The service will deploy it within the Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), European Command (EUCOM), and Central Command (CENTCOM).
In the identical press launch, PDW added that the Military additionally chosen the C100 for its Directed Requirement for Firm-Degree sUAS (small UAS), offering troopers with “medium-range reconnaissance and tactical air help in contested environments.”
