Elbit Places New Order for Duke Robotics' Armed Drone System
The Bird of Prey platform will be delivered in the second half of 2026 as the partnership expands amid growing demand for precision autonomous strike capabilities
A rifle mounted on an unmanned aerial system. Photo: Elbit Systems
U.S. defense technology company Duke Robotics, headquartered in Florida, announced that the Land Division of Elbit Systems has placed a new and significant order for its drone-mounted weapon system, known as Bird of Prey.
According to the company, delivery of the systems is expected to be completed during the second half of this year. Previously known throughout the defense industry as TIKAD, the Bird of Prey system is designed to provide infantry forces and special operations units with a highly accurate airborne strike capability using a lightweight firearm mounted on a small unmanned aerial platform.
The system is marketed globally by Elbit Systems under a long-term strategic cooperation agreement between the two companies. Under the terms of the agreement, Duke Robotics receives royalties on all Bird of Prey sales made by Elbit Systems to customers worldwide.
The company noted that it recognizes revenue from the project upon the actual delivery of each system, rather than when purchase orders are received.
As previously reported by The Defense Post, the latest order underscores the growing global trend toward integrating autonomous systems and precision short-range aerial strike capabilities into modern military operations. The partnership enables Elbit Systems to expand its armed drone portfolio while offering advanced tactical solutions for operating in dense urban environments and other scenarios where deploying ground forces is difficult or carries significant risk.
The technology behind the armed drone was developed to address the operational requirements of modern forces engaged in asymmetric warfare. Stabilizing a lightweight firearm or assault rifle on a compact drone while compensating for recoil and maintaining pinpoint accuracy is widely regarded as one of the most complex engineering challenges in the unmanned systems sector.
The integration of the system into Elbit Systems' land portfolio is expected to open new market opportunities, particularly among Western militaries seeking solutions that reduce risk to soldiers while minimizing collateral damage during precision operations. The planned deliveries later this year will mark another milestone in the implementation of the strategic partnership between the two companies.