HUNTSVILLE — Cummings Aerospace recently completed a flight test demonstrating Hellhound S3’s extended range capability, the company said.
According to a news release, the man-portable loitering munition flew more than 30 kilometers (18 miles) with an inert warhead and landed with more than 50% fuel remaining, indicating a potential maximum range exceeding 60 kilometers (37 miles).

“This test validates Hellhound S3’s persistent loitering capability at extended ranges,” said Cummings Aerospace CEO Sheila Cummings. “That range, combined with speed and modularity, makes Hellhound ideally suited for both loitering munition missions and counter-unmanned aircraft system operations against Group 2 and Group 3 threats, such as the Shahed.”
Cummings Aerospace, a Native American Woman-Owned Small Business headquartered in Huntsville, is an aerospace engineering company delivering weapon system solutions for defense modernization and readiness.
The company said the most recent flight test is part of an ongoing test series validating Hellhound S3’s performance across a wide range of speeds and flight profiles.
Cummings uses modular open systems architecture and 3D printing, allowing the company to rapidly iterate the design based on test data and soldier feedback. This approach directly supports the Department of War’s initiative to unleash U.S. military drone dominance, using 3D printing to enable rapid production at lower cost, the news release said.
Test details
- When and where: Pendleton UAS Range, Ore., Sept. 18
- Vertical launch from canister
- Transition to target area
- Extended loiter using tight figure-eight patterns over designated target
- Carried an inert warhead
- Flew more than 30 kilometers before engineers concluded data collection
- Flew at speeds of 80 meters per second (roughly 180 mph)
- Landed with more than 50% fuel remaining, indicating potential maximum range exceeding 60 kilometers
- Results: All primary objectives achieved
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