First Look: C100 Drone Enhances F-35A Strike Precision in US Airpower Demonstration
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On July 23, 2025, Performance Drone Works (PDW), a U.S. company specializing in artificial intelligence and unmanned aerial systems, published a statement confirming that it had conducted a demonstration with the U.S. Air Force combining its C100 drone with an F-35A Lightning II. The test involved using the quadcopter to illuminate ground targets with a laser designator, enabling the stealth fighter to release and guide four inert GBU-12 Paveway II bombs with accuracy. Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The drone designated targets at progressive ranges of 1,000, 1,500, and 2,000 meters, while recording the successive impacts of the munitions (Picture source: US DoD)
According to information released by the company, the C100 was equipped with a Leonardo STAG5 laser designator mounted beneath its fuselage. The drone designated targets at progressive ranges of 1,000, 1,500, and 2,000 meters, while recording the successive impacts of the munitions. Although the F-35A is not shown during the release sequence, the footage depicts the fighter flying over the area in conjunction with the quadcopter. PDW’s statement indicated that the system successfully guided all the bombs onto their assigned targets. The U.S. Air Force has not yet commented publicly on the test, but the description provided by PDW suggests a method that would allow Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTAC) to identify targets from a safe distance, limiting the need for the F-35 to fly at low altitude or for other aircraft to perform that function.
The use of tactical drones to guide fighter strikes represents a major shift in the conduct of air operations. By transferring target designation to an autonomous system, armed forces reduce risks for forward teams while taking advantage of the stealth features of combat aircraft, which can remain at range while striking with precision. This combination of a relatively low-cost drone and a fifth-generation fighter points to a future of air combat shaped by close interaction between different technological layers, combining firepower with operational flexibility.
The test differs from previous combined operations, such as the U.S.-Philippine bilateral exercise in June 2024, where F-35Bs released GBU-32 JDAMs on floating targets identified by Philippine drones and a C-130. In the case of the C100, the drone was able to loiter for thirty-five minutes and remain about three kilometers from its operator, demonstrating an ability to designate autonomously from a secure position. The GBU-12 bombs used in the trial are derived from the Paveway II kit, which converts a 500-pound Mk 82 bomb into a laser-guided munition, with a range exceeding 14 kilometers.
The C100 falls within the Group 2 drone category and has already been adopted by the U.S. Army. On August 3, 2025, the 173rd Airborne Brigade announced it was acquiring four of these systems along with a fleet of custom-built FPV drones. Brigade soldiers also developed and repaired certain components themselves using 3D printing and soldering, and designed grenade launchers and payload systems adapted to the C100 for tactical delivery missions. During the multinational Agile Spirit 25 exercise, held in Georgia in early August, the drone was also showcased with modular payloads for medical supply or ammunition delivery, underscoring its versatility. According to a U.S. Army statement, the C100 has an endurance of 74 minutes and a range of 10 kilometers, enabling maneuver units to conduct reconnaissance or resupply missions beyond line of sight, a key advantage in difficult environments.
Designed to be portable and deployed from a light tactical vehicle, the C100 features a foldable quad-rotor structure and can carry various electro-optical sensors, small explosive payloads, or act as a mothership for smaller drones. PDW presents it as an “organic fires platform,” integrating laser designation for rapid target transfer to artillery, aviation, or naval systems. In the demonstration with the F-35, the drone validated its role as a remote target designation asset, reducing JTAC exposure and facilitating the use of the fighter’s stealth features in strike scenarios.
However, greater reliance on data links and onboard sensors in autonomous systems introduces vulnerabilities. Drones, particularly those operating at short and medium ranges, remain susceptible to electronic jamming and cyber intrusions that can disrupt or neutralize their targeting function. The increasing sophistication of electronic warfare therefore, requires these systems to be networked, with redundancies and backup solutions, to maintain effectiveness in contested environments. In this sense, the drone-fighter collaboration represents a step toward a more interconnected battlespace, yet one dependent on control of the electromagnetic spectrum.
The demonstration carried out in July 2025 shows how a light tactical drone, designed to operate at short and medium ranges, can enhance the flexibility of airstrikes while reducing risks for forward operators. The integration between the C100 and the F-35A illustrates the evolution of joint warfare concepts, where target designation and precision guidance are no longer confined to manned platforms but can be carried out by compact, modular drones deployed closer to the battlefield.
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On July 23, 2025, Performance Drone Works (PDW), a U.S. company specializing in artificial intelligence and unmanned aerial systems, published a statement confirming that it had conducted a demonstration with the U.S. Air Force combining its C100 drone with an F-35A Lightning II. The test involved using the quadcopter to illuminate ground targets with a laser designator, enabling the stealth fighter to release and guide four inert GBU-12 Paveway II bombs with accuracy.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The drone designated targets at progressive ranges of 1,000, 1,500, and 2,000 meters, while recording the successive impacts of the munitions (Picture source: US DoD)
According to information released by the company, the C100 was equipped with a Leonardo STAG5 laser designator mounted beneath its fuselage. The drone designated targets at progressive ranges of 1,000, 1,500, and 2,000 meters, while recording the successive impacts of the munitions. Although the F-35A is not shown during the release sequence, the footage depicts the fighter flying over the area in conjunction with the quadcopter. PDW’s statement indicated that the system successfully guided all the bombs onto their assigned targets. The U.S. Air Force has not yet commented publicly on the test, but the description provided by PDW suggests a method that would allow Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTAC) to identify targets from a safe distance, limiting the need for the F-35 to fly at low altitude or for other aircraft to perform that function.
The use of tactical drones to guide fighter strikes represents a major shift in the conduct of air operations. By transferring target designation to an autonomous system, armed forces reduce risks for forward teams while taking advantage of the stealth features of combat aircraft, which can remain at range while striking with precision. This combination of a relatively low-cost drone and a fifth-generation fighter points to a future of air combat shaped by close interaction between different technological layers, combining firepower with operational flexibility.
The test differs from previous combined operations, such as the U.S.-Philippine bilateral exercise in June 2024, where F-35Bs released GBU-32 JDAMs on floating targets identified by Philippine drones and a C-130. In the case of the C100, the drone was able to loiter for thirty-five minutes and remain about three kilometers from its operator, demonstrating an ability to designate autonomously from a secure position. The GBU-12 bombs used in the trial are derived from the Paveway II kit, which converts a 500-pound Mk 82 bomb into a laser-guided munition, with a range exceeding 14 kilometers.
The C100 falls within the Group 2 drone category and has already been adopted by the U.S. Army. On August 3, 2025, the 173rd Airborne Brigade announced it was acquiring four of these systems along with a fleet of custom-built FPV drones. Brigade soldiers also developed and repaired certain components themselves using 3D printing and soldering, and designed grenade launchers and payload systems adapted to the C100 for tactical delivery missions. During the multinational Agile Spirit 25 exercise, held in Georgia in early August, the drone was also showcased with modular payloads for medical supply or ammunition delivery, underscoring its versatility. According to a U.S. Army statement, the C100 has an endurance of 74 minutes and a range of 10 kilometers, enabling maneuver units to conduct reconnaissance or resupply missions beyond line of sight, a key advantage in difficult environments.
Designed to be portable and deployed from a light tactical vehicle, the C100 features a foldable quad-rotor structure and can carry various electro-optical sensors, small explosive payloads, or act as a mothership for smaller drones. PDW presents it as an “organic fires platform,” integrating laser designation for rapid target transfer to artillery, aviation, or naval systems. In the demonstration with the F-35, the drone validated its role as a remote target designation asset, reducing JTAC exposure and facilitating the use of the fighter’s stealth features in strike scenarios.
However, greater reliance on data links and onboard sensors in autonomous systems introduces vulnerabilities. Drones, particularly those operating at short and medium ranges, remain susceptible to electronic jamming and cyber intrusions that can disrupt or neutralize their targeting function. The increasing sophistication of electronic warfare therefore, requires these systems to be networked, with redundancies and backup solutions, to maintain effectiveness in contested environments. In this sense, the drone-fighter collaboration represents a step toward a more interconnected battlespace, yet one dependent on control of the electromagnetic spectrum.
The demonstration carried out in July 2025 shows how a light tactical drone, designed to operate at short and medium ranges, can enhance the flexibility of airstrikes while reducing risks for forward operators. The integration between the C100 and the F-35A illustrates the evolution of joint warfare concepts, where target designation and precision guidance are no longer confined to manned platforms but can be carried out by compact, modular drones deployed closer to the battlefield.
