Cinder Autonomous Attack Drone Unveiled, Boosting Space Coast Defense Tech Profile

A new generation of autonomous warfare capability emerged this week with the official unveiling on May 20, 2025, of the Cinder autonomous attack drone. Developed by Dragoon, a defense technology company with operations in Grant-Valkaria, Brevard County, in partnership with intelligent sensing leader Teledyne FLIR OEM, the Cinder is a loitering munition engineered for long-range engagements, even in GPS- and RF-denied environments. This development, part of the Pentagon’s Project Artemis, not only showcases a leap in UAS technology but also underscores the Space Coast’s expanding role as a hub for agile defense firms capable of spearheading cutting-edge innovation.

Project Artemis, managed by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), is focused on rapidly prototyping and deploying cost-effective, adaptable uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) that can operate effectively in contested electromagnetic spectrums. Dragoon’s selection as a key participant underscores DIU’s strategy of leveraging specialized innovation from a broader, more agile industrial base.

Cinder: AI-Powered Precision in Contested Zones

The Cinder drone is designed to autonomously identify, track, and engage targets without continuous human operator input, offering true “fire-and-forget” functionality. Key capabilities include:

Advanced Autonomy: Utilizes sophisticated AI-powered visual recognition, leveraging Teledyne FLIR’s Prism™ SKR software for automatic target recognition (ATR) and Prism™ Supervisor for end-to-end mission autonomy. It can distinguish between high-value targets (like T-series tanks) and decoys, and even select optimal aim points based on thermal signatures.
Operations in Denied Environments: Engineered to navigate and strike targets without relying on GPS or continuous radio frequency communication, crucial for modern battlefields with sophisticated electronic warfare threats.
Long-Range Engagement: Designed to operate at ranges between 50 and 300 kilometers, significantly exceeding many current loitering munitions.
Low-Cost, Scalable Design: Conceived for potential use in saturation strikes as part of a distributed and attritable asset strategy.

The collaboration between Dragoon’s airframe expertise and Teledyne FLIR’s AI-driven sensor technology is central to Cinder’s advanced capabilities. Jason Douglas, co-founder of Dragoon Technology, emphasized the synergy: “The integration of Dragoon’s Cinder unmanned aircraft—our low-cost, long-range platform—and Teledyne FLIR’s OEM Prism software unlocks new, highly autonomous mission capabilities in complex environments.”

Project Artemis: Accelerating Autonomous Capabilities

Project Artemis aims to deliver long-range, one-way UAS prototypes by the end of Fiscal Year 2025, with capability demonstrations slated for the end of May 2025. The initiative responds to a Congressional mandate for low-cost loitering munitions capable of functioning reliably under challenging conditions, drawing lessons from modern conflicts where adaptable drones and electronic warfare play dominant roles. Dragoon is one of four companies awarded contracts under this initiative.

Space Coast Impact: Catalyst for Defense Innovation

The development and unveiling of the Cinder drone carry substantial implications for Florida’s Space Coast. Dragoon’s presence in Grant-Valkaria highlights Brevard County’s expanding role in cutting-edge defense innovation, moving beyond its traditional identity associated with large prime contractors and space launch activities.

This project is poised to:

Foster the Local High-Tech Ecosystem: Stimulating growth in AI, autonomous systems, and advanced manufacturing.
Create Specialized Jobs: Requiring engineers, software developers, and technicians skilled in these advanced fields.
Attract Investment: High-profile successes can draw further R&D funding and venture capital to the region.
Stimulate Supply Chains: Potentially leading to the growth of local suppliers for specialized components and services.

The Cinder drone not only represents a technological leap in loitering munitions but also signifies the maturation of regional innovation hubs like the Space Coast, capable of contributing significantly to national security through agile, specialized enterprises.

Broader Strategic Context

The Cinder drone fits into a broader strategic shift towards “distributed, attritable warfare.” This doctrine emphasizes overwhelming adversaries not with a few expensive platforms, but with numerous intelligent, lower-cost, and expendable systems that can saturate defenses and still achieve mission objectives even if some assets are lost. Its capabilities could revolutionize deep strike missions against peer adversaries possessing layered air defenses. While offering tactical advantages, the rise of such autonomous systems also brings complex ethical and policy considerations regarding their use and oversight.

The unveiling of Cinder is a clear indicator of the evolving defense landscape and the Space Coast’s dynamic role within it.

For more in-depth coverage of how cutting-edge defense technologies are shaping our region and national security, visit Space Coast Defense.