SpearUAV Viper 300

History

The SpearUAV Viper 300 is a small capsule-launched loitering munition designed for infantry squads, armored units, and specialized ground forces. The system combines a quadcopter air vehicle with an encapsulated launch arrangement that allows deployment by soldiers on foot or from armored vehicles.

The Viper 300 is intended for reconnaissance, surveillance, target detection, tracking, and direct attack. SpearUAV states that the system uses artificial intelligence to assist target identification, tracking, and engagement while retaining the hovering characteristics of a multirotor aircraft.

The system weighs 2.8 kg including its capsule and payload. Published specifications give a maximum speed of about 27 m/s, a range of 5 km, and an endurance of up to 20 minutes.

In December 2024, SpearUAV announced a $20 million contract for the Viper 300 with an undisclosed customer. The agreement included options that could increase its value to approximately $60 million. The company expected deliveries under the contract to begin in 2025. Details of the customer, quantity, and planned receiving units were not disclosed. The contract and planned delivery schedule were reported by Defence Blog.

By September 2026, SpearUAV reported that nearly 1,000 Viper 300 systems were ready for delivery to customers worldwide. The company also stated that production had reached hundreds of systems per month, but it did not disclose an exact production rate or identify the countries receiving the systems.

The Viper 300 has also been associated with vehicle-based deployment. SpearUAV developed a Multi Canister Launcher that permits several Viper drones to be mounted on armored vehicles. The Viper 300 was additionally included in Rafael's proposal to the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence for the autonomous resupply initiative known as Project Theseus.

Design

Air vehicle and launch system

The Viper 300 uses a quadcopter configuration rather than the fixed-wing layout used by many loitering munitions. Its multirotor design permits vertical flight and stable hovering. SpearUAV presents this capability as useful in urban areas, rough terrain, and missions requiring the aircraft to remain near a moving or stationary target rather than continuously fly past it.

The aircraft is carried and launched from a capsule. The complete system weighs 2.8 kg including the capsule and payload. The compact arrangement allows a soldier to deploy the system on foot, while armored vehicles can carry multiple units through the dedicated Multi Canister Launcher.

The manufacturer's Viper 300 product information lists a maximum speed of 27 m/s, a range of 5 km, and flight endurance of up to 20 minutes.

Guidance and mission functions

SpearUAV describes the Viper 300 as an AI-enabled system capable of assisting with target identification, tracking, and engagement. The manufacturer's published mission set includes precision attack, reconnaissance and surveillance, defensive operations, border patrol, and other missions requiring a small hovering unmanned aircraft.

The system is intended for engagements beyond the operator's immediate line of sight. A separate Viper 300 technical listing describes AI-assisted autonomous target detection, tracking, and engagement, together with stable hovering and agile flight. Publicly available material does not provide detailed information about the communication link, sensor configuration, payload type, or control architecture.

Program status

As of September 2026, SpearUAV reported nearly 1,000 Viper 300 systems ready for delivery and production measured in hundreds of systems per month. The company has not publicly identified the customers associated with this production volume. The previously announced 2024 contract called for deliveries to begin in 2025, but the available sources do not identify operational units or confirm the service status of individual customer fleets.

Related equipment

• Viper 40: A smaller member of the SpearUAV Viper family.
• Viper 750: A larger Viper-family system developed for naval applications.
• Viper I: An interceptor version intended to engage drones and other aerial threats rather than ground targets.

Specifications (Viper 300)

General characteristics

• Type: Capsule-launched hovering loitering munition and attack drone
• Configuration: Quadcopter
• Launch method: Encapsulated launch system
• Weight: 2.8 kg including capsule and payload

Performance

• Maximum speed: 27 m/s
• Range: 5 km
• Endurance: Up to 20 minutes
• Flight capability: Vertical flight and hovering

Guidance and mission systems

• Targeting: AI-assisted target identification, tracking, and engagement
• Operating concept: Beyond-line-of-sight engagement