Ukraine reveals world’s first grenade-launcher drone attack

A dangerous new weapon is on the frontlines

The Ukrainian Armed Forces used a terrifying new weapon for the first time in combat against Russia. What did troops bring to the battlefield? A drone fitted with a grenade launcher according to reports. 

Used by the Bulava unit in battle

On May 13th, the “Bulava” unit, a group of drone operators that are part of the Bohdan Khmelnytsky Separate Presidential Brigade’s 3rd Mechanized Battalion, revealed that it used a new drone in frontline fighting. 

Photo Credit: X @wilendhornets

Meet the Queen Hornet grenade launcher

The drone in question was a fifteen-inch Queen Hornet’s first-person view (FPV) drone modified to carry a hand-held and disposable grenade launcher into battle. Video footage of the drone attack was posted online by the drone’s manufacturer Wild Hornets. 

Photo Credit: X @wilendhornets

Attacking a Russian positon

In the video footage, a Russian position can be seen from the drone operator’s first-person view as the drone approached the position. The drone pilot got in close before firing his grenade and hitting the position. 

Photo Credit: Telegram @wild_hornets

A second clip of the drone in use

The video also included a second clip spliced together with the first showing the drone engaging a Russian position in a treeline. However, Business Insider noted the target in the second clip was not clear. 

Photo Credit: Telegram @wild_hornets

A drone used as a bomber platform

Based on the Queen Hornet quadcopter drone developed by Wild Hornets, the system is normally used in combat as a bomber platform but has been upgraded and altered over the course of the war in Ukraine to carry other weapons into battle. 

Photo Credit: X @wilendhornets

Testing the new drone

In September 2024, the Bulava unit first revealed that it was working with Wild Hornets to develop a drone that could be equipped with a grenade launcher. At the time, the unit was already testing a system according to the Ukrainian military news website Militarnyi. 

Photo Credit: X @wilendhornets

The right drone at the right time

“We had agrodrones, but setting the right angle is difficult. Even if you’re a super pilot, the risks of losing a drone are high, and it’s a very expensive story. And then the Queen of Hornets appeared, which opened up a lot of opportunities,” one soldier explained. 

Photo Credit: X @wilendhornets

Meet the Queen Hornet drone

The Wild Hornet’s Queen Hornet is a relatively cheap system that can carry upwards of 9.5 kilograms (20.9 pounds) over short distances. The drone, when carrying a light load, is capable of traveling 17 kilometers (10.5 miles). 

Photo Credit: X @wilendhornets

Details about the grenade launcher Queen Hornet

The grenade launcher model of the Queen Hornet is reportedly equipped with a Bulspike-AP that fires an OG-22M high-explosive fragmentation rocket-propelled grenade according to Militarnyi. 

Photo Credit: X @wilendhornets

Extending the range of rocket launchers

"From now on, an ordinary rocket launcher can work at a distance of 5+ km. This opens up new opportunities for the military," Wild Hornets explained in September 2024 when it revealed it was testing its Queen Hornet drone with grenade launchers. 

Photo Credit: X @wilendhornets

There are still unanswered questions

Business Insider pointed out that it is still unclear if Wild Hornets will be mass producing its Queen Hornet drone equipped with grenade launchers or whether Ukraine will deploy the weapons at scale. But we do know it isn’t the first drone-based weapons platform. 

Other systems engineers have developed

Other Ukrainian companies have been innovative when it comes to drone warfare and combat footage of drones equipped with everything from shotguns to assault rifles has made its way online in recent months. 

Deadly machine gun drones

In November 2024, Wild Hornets released footage of a Queen Hornet Drone equipped with a Kalashnikov 5.45mm assault rifle (AK-74) being used against Russian positions on the frontlines. Reports about the weapon began circulating as early as August 2024. 

Photo Credit: X @wilendhornets

Ukrainian shotgun drones

While machine gun and grenade launcher drones are being used to attack positions on the frontlines, Ukrainian forces are using shotgun drones to hunt down other drones on the battlefield according to recent footage. 

Photo Credit: Telegram @mb2omb30

Combat footage from the frontline

In January 2025, the Ukrainian 2nd Mechanized Battalion, which is a part of the 30th Mechanized Brigade, released combat footage from the frontlines showing its forces using shotgun drones to destroy 20 Russian drones. 

Photo Credit: Telegram @mb2omb30