Lockheed Martin F-35A uses small drone to guide precision bombs in first-of-its-kind test
August 18, 2025
In a breakthrough for battlefield coordination, a single PDW C100 drone has successfully guided four precision bombs released by a US Air Force F-35A stealth fighter, striking multiple targets without support from any other aircraft.
The July trial, conducted by Performance Drone Works (PDW) alongside the Department of Defense, showcased how a small unmanned aerial system (UAS) can work directly with a fifth-generation fighter to deliver accurate, long-range strikes from standoff distances.
How the F-35 drone test worked
Equipped with a Leonardo STAG5 laser target designator, the C100 marked three separate ground targets at ranges of 1,000, 1,500 and 2,000 meters. Loitering 3 km from its operator for 35 minutes, the drone relayed precise targeting data to the F-35, which dropped four inert GBU-12 bombs. All four strikes were confirmed on target.
One operator. One drone. Precision F-35 targeting from cover – no other aircraft required. #C100 pic.twitter.com/wtZ4NGsV9L
— PDW (@PDW_ai) August 12, 2025
“This exercise demonstrated the ability of an operator to safely mark targets from a standoff range with the C100 for joint fires capabilities without the need for supporting aircraft,” said PDW CEO and co-founder Ryan Gury. The US Air Force has not publicly commented on the demonstration.
Stealth fighters like the F-35 are most effective when operating at altitude and away from radar threats. Traditionally, laser-guided strikes have required either another manned aircraft or exposed ground troops to designate targets—forcing the jet to descend and risk detection. By offloading that role to a small drone, the F-35 can maintain its stealth profile while still delivering precision effects.
The PDW C100: More than just a spotter drone
PDW built the C100 as an ‘organic fires platform’, designed to deliver intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), target designation, and even kinetic effects.
Its modular payload system allows the drone to pass laser designation seamlessly between close air support, indirect fire, or maritime assets. According to CEO Ryan Gury, the goal is to make the C100 “the ultimate organic fires platform,” giving both ground forces and advanced aircraft far greater tactical flexibility.
The C100 has already been adopted by the US Army’s 173rd Airborne Brigade, which acquired four systems earlier this year to replace its retired RQ-7B Shadow drones.
Soldiers are also experimenting with cost-effective, 3D-printed first-person-view drones, but the C100 offers far greater range, up to 10 km with an endurance of 74 minutes, and can operate in mountainous or contested environments without line of sight.
Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Daniels, a platoon sergeant with the brigade, noted the platform’s versatility: “We saw the PDW C100 mission sets able to drop supplies to a forward aid station or conduct autonomous missions beyond 2 or 3 kilometres. The drone will complete the task and return.”
F-35 and drone teaming showcases the future of joint fires
The F-35 demonstration highlights a shift in close air support doctrine. Instead of relying on low-flying aircraft or exposed JTACs to mark targets, small modular drones like the C100 can now close the kill chain from safe distances.
For PDW, the test also validates a broader ambition: to integrate compact drones across domains – air, land, and sea – supporting joint fires without exposing high-value aircraft or personnel.
As modern conflicts demand more precision, flexibility, and survivability, the C100 shows how even small drones can amplify the effectiveness of 5th-generation fighters.
The future of joint fires may not rest solely on the shoulders of stealth jets, but on their ability to team seamlessly with agile, low-cost unmanned partners.
