As part of the transformation plan initiated by the United States, aiming to adapt the organization of the army and make new technologies available to soldiers for experimentation, innovation, and preparation for modern combat, a new anti-bunker warhead, made from 3D printed components, was recently tested on a small unmanned aerial system.
For reference, a warhead is the front part of a projectile and usually contains the explosive charge. This new projectile, named BRAKER (“Bunker Rupture and Kinetic Explosive Round”), is designed to significantly increase the aerial strike capabilities of the US armed forces.
Tests conducted on the BRAKER were successful, according to an article by Forbes published on April 24, 2026. The BRAKER is a relatively compact device housed in a 3D printed shell. It is the first weapon of this kind designed to be mounted on a small one-way attack drone.
Designed to destroy heavy fortifications and underground targets, the BRAKER represents a significant evolution, as anti-bunker munitions have traditionally been large caliber shells dropped from planes. The project was initiated in early March and successfully tested a few weeks later at the Redstone Arsenal in Alabama. A total of 12 munitions were produced, with one used in a demonstration for army officials. The project was led by the U.S. Army’s executive program for ammunition and energetics at the Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey.
The rapid development process for the BRAKER was highlighted, with Colonel Vincent Morris stating that the Picatinny team went from concept to actual firing in two weeks. He emphasized the ability to rapidly develop and deploy devastating effects through small unmanned aerial systems like the BRAKER.
The warhead BRAKER will be attached to drones using a universal attachment device developed by the team called the Picatinny Common Lethality Integration Kit (Picatinny CLIK). This system is inspired by a standard rail used by the army to adapt rifle mounts and will allow the armed forces to equip their drones with different types of payloads.
