U.S. Army Develops CLIK System to Standardize Lethal Payloads for Small Drones

The U.S. Army is advancing a new standard for integrating lethal payloads with unmanned aerial systems (UAS), aiming to streamline deployment and enhance operational flexibility. At the center of this initiative is the Picatinny Common Lethality Integration Kit (CLIK), a modular interface designed to standardize how drones carry and deploy munitions. This development reflects a broader trend in military technology: the push toward interoperability, modularity, and cost-effective innovation in unmanned warfare.

First person view drones. U.S. Army. army.mil

The CLIK system is being developed by the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Armaments Center. It builds on the legacy of the Picatinny Rail, a standardized mounting platform originally designed for firearms. The CLIK extends this concept to drones, providing a mechanical, electrical, and safety architecture that allows various lethal payloads to be mounted and deployed from different UAS platforms without requiring custom integration for each new configuration.

This standardization is intended to eliminate the problem of “vendor lock,” where proprietary systems limit flexibility and increase costs. By offering a common interface, CLIK allows the Army and its partners to focus on developing effective payloads without being constrained by integration challenges. This approach also facilitates faster procurement and deployment, as new payloads can be tested and fielded more rapidly when they conform to a shared specification.

Several payloads have already been demonstrated using the CLIK system. One example is AUDIBLE, a system that enables drones to drop conventional munitions such as M67 grenades. Another is Shank, formerly known as Project Shiv, which equips first-person view (FPV) drones with explosively formed penetrator warheads for one-way attack missions. These capabilities were showcased during a live-fire training exercise at the Grafenwoehr Training Area in Germany, marking a significant milestone in the Army’s integration of drone-based lethality into its operational toolkit.

The CLIK initiative is not limited to munitions. The Armaments Center is also adapting its Gunslinger aviation fire control system for use with drones. This system allows for precise targeting of both droppable munitions and direct-fire weapons, even while the drone is in motion. Additionally, a lightweight 5.56mm low-recoil weapon has been developed specifically for drone use, complete with a tailored fire control system.

Safety remains a key concern in the deployment of lethal drone systems. The CLIK architecture incorporates MIL-STD-1316-compliant fuze technologies, which are designed to ensure that munitions can be safely armed and deployed in complex environments. This includes safeguards to prevent accidental detonation and to ensure that payloads function as intended under a variety of operational conditions.

The development of CLIK is being carried out in close collaboration with industry partners through Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs). These partnerships allow drone manufacturers and payload developers to provide feedback on the CLIK specifications and to work jointly with the Army on refining and validating the system. This collaborative model is intended to accelerate the transition from prototype to fielded capability, ensuring that the Army can rapidly adapt to emerging threats and technological opportunities.

The CLIK initiative is part of a broader shift in military strategy toward the use of modular, scalable, and autonomous systems. By standardizing the interface between drones and their payloads, the Army is laying the groundwork for a more agile and responsive force. This approach aligns with the growing emphasis on distributed operations, where small, networked units equipped with advanced technologies can operate independently or in coordination to achieve strategic objectives.

The Picatinny Common Lethality Integration Kit represents a significant step forward in the U.S. Army’s efforts to modernize its unmanned capabilities. By providing a standardized, flexible platform for integrating lethal payloads with drones, CLIK enhances the Army’s ability to deploy effective, adaptable, and safe unmanned systems in a wide range of operational scenarios. As the technology matures and more payloads are developed to conform to the CLIK standard, the Army is likely to see increased efficiency, reduced costs, and greater tactical versatility in its use of drone-based lethality.