Teledyne FLIR Defense announced on 13 May 2026 the selection of its Rogue 1 loitering munition system as the US Army Low Altitude Stalking and Strike Ordnance (LASSO). It is already provided to both the US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) as the Ground Organic Precision Strike System and the US Marine Corps as the Organic Precision Fires-Light. The Rogue 1 was initially developed under a SOCOM contract, and they have received systems. The Marines followed and are set to receive their systems for testing in the upcoming summer of 2026, based on an April 2026 contract award.
The Army LASSO is designed to provide light infantry with a man-portable, ground-launched, unmanned aerial munition and uncrewed aerial system (UAS) capable of engaging armour and other targets beyond line-of-sight. It is tube-launched and can be recovered by vertical landing if the mission is aborted. This is enabled by its unique fusing, which can be deactivated to ensure safe recovery.
Rogue 1 is guided by the operator through its integrated gimballed 360-degree optics, including a thermal camera that also provides precise targeting. Weighing 4.5 kg (10 lbs), the munition has a thirty-minute flight time, a 20-kilometre (12-mile) range, and a speed of up to 113 km/h (70 mph). The system is currently available with three mission payloads: an Explosively Formed Penetrator (EFP), a forward fragmenting, or a non-lethal trainer. The field user selects and attaches the most appropriate payload to achieve maximum lethality against the target. It is further designed to operate in communications and GPS-denied environments.
The Army LASSO two-year contract specifies the delivery of 130 munitions for further testing and evaluation by the summer of 2027. Based on current levels of committed production deliveries, the estimated unit price of the Rogue 1 is around $70,000. Meanwhile, Teledyne FLIR unveiled its updated Rogue 1 Block 2, which has twice the range of the Block 1 variant at more than twenty kilometres (12.4 miles). Debuted at SOF Week in late May, it also features a new shaped charge anti-armour payload intended for use against hardened vehicles. Other improvements include better communications, greater autonomy, and electronic warfare resilience. Block 2 munitions are expected to be delivered to SOCOM in 2026. The Army LASSO requirement also includes the AeroVironment Switchblade 400, which has received a contract. Tube-launched, it offers an all-up round weight of 18 kg (39 pounds). With a speed of 133 kilometres (70 miles), a 35-minute flight time, and a range of up to 65 kilometres (40 miles), it is designed for use by the Army’s new Mobile Brigade Combat Teams, which have access to light-vehicle transport in their Infantry Squad Vehicles.
by Stephen W. Miller
