The Pentagon has given a new shotgun-wielding drone its stamp of approval. It also comes with a grenade launcher.

Shotguns have been a last line of defense against drones in Ukraine. The US military has also embraced this tactic. US Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mhecaela Watts A drone armed with a shotgun has been added to the Pentagon's list of uncrewed systems approved for purchase by the US military and other federal agencies.Shotguns are commonly seen as a last line of defense against uncrewed aerial systems. Now, US troops could find themselves using a drone armed with one instead.Earlier this month, Skyborne Technologies' AI-enabled Cerberus MI was approved for the Blue UAS List. The drone is a small, man-portable UAS that the company says was specifically designed to absorb the recoil of attached weapons. The company says the aircraft weighs about 40 pounds, can fly for roughly 35 minutes when armed, and engage targets at a range of over 300 meters.Instead of simply mounting a shotgun on a commercial, off-the-shelf drone, Skyborne purposefully designed and built the aircraft with the recoil of a CHAOS 12-gauge shotgun in mind.In addition to the shotgun, Cerberus MI can also be equipped to carry a HAVOC 40mm low-velocity grenade launcher. An operator can send the drone into action, fire its weapons, and fly it back for reloading. According to Skyborne, that makes it a reusable alternative to one-way attack systems that are typically destroyed after striking a target.The idea of arming drones with shotguns isn't new. Ukrainian defense company 3DTech, for example, developed a drone equipped with a six-barrel recoilless shotgun system to shoot down enemy drones. Other companies are pursuing similar technology, including Federal Ammunition, Mossberg, and Palladyne AI, which are collaborating on the SwarmShot project.The Pentagon's Blue UAS program was established in 2020 to identify drones that meet US government standards, particularly cybersecurity and supply chain rules. Last year, the Defense Contract Management Agency launched an official website cataloging the models approved for use.The DCMA said that the list would expedite the process of getting drones into troops' hands as the US Department of Defense and other federal agencies push to rapidly integrate uncrewed systems into operations. Drones, drone parts, and software are part of the program.A major focus of the list is identifying drones that meet restrictions on Chinese-made components. According to the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International, Chinese companies control 90% of the commercial drone market. US officials have raised concerns about Beijing's leverage over the market. Read next Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know Chris Panella is a defense reporter for Business Insider. He covers technological transformations in the US military with focuses on US military modernization, US Army transformation, and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and drones. Globally, Panella reports on China's military and Taiwan. Panella has embedded with the Army in Alaska, interviewed special operators learning to fly drones, and flown with US Coast Guard helicopters practicing drug interdictions. If you have a tip related to these areas or broader defense coverage, Panella can be reached at cpanella@businessinsider.com or on Signal at cpanella.85. Defense Drones