Overview
- The MALET program began in 2024 at the Army Armaments Center and was built to let soldiers deploy in-service mortar rounds from unmanned aircraft without permanently altering the ammunition.
- MALET is a removable clip that adds the fuze function and aerodynamic control needed for aerial release and can be taken off so unused rounds can return to tube-fired mortar use.
- In late 2026 engineers completed live-fire drops in which 60 mm mortar rounds were released from moving drones and detonated inside the intended target area, the Army reported.
- Developers cite core technical and safety issues they must solve, including ensuring stable flight after release, safe arming timing when not fired from a tube, and preserving explosive safety without field tampering.
- Next steps include distributing MALET kits for major Army exercises to gather soldier feedback, further refinement with industry partners, and continued safety and doctrinal work before any decision to field the system broadly.