Ukraine uses more than 10,000 Hornet loitering munitions in Russia strikes

Perennial Autonomy's Hornet loitering munition launch at a demonstration on Range 220 as part of Service Level Training Exercise 4-26 in California on July 28, 2026. (2nd Marine Division )

The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) deployed more than 10,000 Hornet loitering munitions to strike targets inside Russia over the past three months, a defence source confirmed to Janes on 2 September 2026.

The Hornet loitering munition used by the AFU for mid-range strikes has a range of more than 200 km, the source also confirmed. The platform incorporates an AI-enabled optical tracking system for the autonomous detection, tracking, and engagement of targets, according to Janes All the World's Aircraft: Unmanned.

The majority of Hornet strikes carried out by the AFU used AI guidance and targeting, according to the source. The AI guidance and targeting system was developed in-house by US company Perennial Autonomy which manufactures the loitering munition. Perennial Autonomy was formerly called Project Eagle, according to a US Army press release from 26 March. Project Eagle was founded by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, a NATO official confirmed to Janes in November 2025. The company also produces the Bumblebee unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and the Merops Counter-UAV (C-UAV) system.

Separately, Russia confirmed Ukraine is deploying autonomously guided UAVs to strike targets inside Russia, a source within Russia's security and intelligence apparatus was quoted as saying in a 2 September 2026 article by state news agency Tass.

Most of the UAVs fly autonomously using pre-programmed routes to their targets, according to the source. “However, a certain percentage of drones — specifically those targeting high-value objectives — are still under active control.”