Hellhound S3 Shows Extended Range in Flight Test — 3D Printing Used for Rapid Iteration

Cummings Aerospace demonstrated the range performance of its portable loitering munition Hellhound S3 in a recent test flight. Launched from the Pendleton UAS Range in Oregon on September 18, 2025, an example equipped with an inert warhead traveled more than 30 kilometers and only touched down after data collection was complete, with over 50 percent of its fuel remaining. According to the manufacturer, these flight data indicate a technically possible maximum profile with substantially greater range and are part of ongoing validation series of performance across different flight profiles.

The Hellhound S3 is designed as a man-portable, modular platform and, according to the manufacturer, is intended both for countering unmanned air systems in Groups 2 and 3 and for precision strike missions. The architecture is open and modular so that different payloads — from warheads to reconnaissance and electronic packages — can be swapped in a short time. Cummings Aerospace emphasizes that the use of additive manufacturing processes enables rapid development and timely incorporation of design changes.

“This test validates Hellhound S3’s persistent loitering capability at extended ranges,” said Sheila Cummings, chief executive officer of Cummings Aerospace. “That range, combined with speed and modularity, makes Hellhound ideally suited for both loitering munition missions and counter-unmanned aircraft system operations against Group 2 and Group 3 threats, such as the Shahed.”

Of technical relevance are the reported flight speeds and mission profile: during the test tight figure-eight patterns were flown and transitions between launch, transit, and prolonged loitering were recorded. The test program is part of a broader series that will examine automatic target recognition, various flight speeds, and mission scenarios. The manufacturer also points to achieved maturity levels in technology and production readiness, indicating operational testing and industrial scalability.

In conclusion, the Hellhound tests further clarify the platform’s development status; they provide metrics for range, flight dynamics, and operational flexibility, without disclosing new details regarding manufacturing or employment guidance. Further flights and evaluations will refine the significance of the current results in the coming months.