On Monday, August 18, 2025, the American company Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. unveiled the concept of a combat unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) named Clone Ranger. Details of the concept were presented by the defense outlet The War Zone.
Image: Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.
The concept was developed by Sierra Technical Services, Inc. (STS), which was acquired by Kratos in 2023. According to available information, the aircraft, featuring an unusual fuselage shape with a reduced radar cross-section and a highly modular design, is expected to have a final length of approximately 9.144 m (30 ft). Designed as a cost-effective platform, it will be capable of taking off under its own power from runways about 1,220 m (4,000 ft) long and reaching a maximum flight range of around 3,500–4,100 km (1,900–2,200 nautical miles).
The aircraft features a trapezoidal wing in a modified diamond aerodynamic layout with a relatively broad fuselage. In terms of its wing, it resembles Thanatos, a tactical-class combat UAV prototype from the same manufacturer, which was test-flown last year but remains shrouded in secrecy. In terms of fuselage design, it recalls the Sabre Warrior concept, developed in 1997 by Lockheed Martin (though that design was larger and powered by a single turbojet engine – ed.).
A distinctive feature of the Clone Ranger is the large frontal air intake, which splits the fuselage into two sections, each housing, among other systems, two internal weapons bays. In addition, underwing hardpoints have been fitted for external weapon pylons. The released graphic does not show the rear fuselage, so details such as the number of engines remain unknown. Furthermore, according to the designers, the aircraft will carry dual multirole sensor suites consisting of a radar and an electro-optical sensor.
As for weaponry, Clone Ranger is expected to carry satellite-guided GBU-39/B SDB I (Small Diameter Bomb) glide bombs, ADM-160 MALD (Miniature Air-Launched Decoy) electronic decoys, as well as AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile) and AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. This means it could support both air-to-ground strike missions and air-to-air operations, serving as a multirole uncrewed “loyal wingman” aircraft.
Interestingly, Clone Ranger aircraft are expected to have the capability to refuel another of the same type in flight (fuel tanks are located in the central fuselage, where the air intake is positioned).
It is worth recalling that on June 3 of this year, Kratos signed a Teaming Agreement with GE Aerospace (part of General Electric) to jointly develop advanced propulsion technologies for the next generation of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) unmanned systems.
Although in the first phase of the CCA program (Increment 1), the USAF selected Anduril Industries’ YFQ-44A and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc.’s (GA-ASI) YFQ-42A, in the second phase (Increment 2) the plan is to choose an improved platform—cheaper and less sophisticated, according to program officials—in which other companies may also participate (especially as the USAF plans to procure over 1,000 CCAs to support crewed sixth-generation multirole aircraft, such as Boeing F-47 NGAD, the successor to the F-22A Raptor). Notably, the USAF is also interested in the possibility of specialized CCAs being capable of mutual in-flight refueling.
It's look like Sabre Warrior UCAV concept from Lockheed Martin in 1997 pic.twitter.com/qGH5Ppbnr8
— 笑脸男人 (@lfx160219) August 19, 2025
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