Dagger / Dagger Gen-2
Autonomous high-speed tactical reconnaissance UAV.
Dagger is an autonomous high-speed tilt-rotor UAV developed by Dagger Unmanned for reconnaissance, autonomous teaming and precision strike operations in contested environments.
01 / Overview
The first-generation Dagger platform proved the viability of a fully attritable tilt-rotor UAV concept. Dagger Gen-2 advances operational flexibility and resilience under Air Force sponsorship, supported by a $1.8M AFWERX Phase II STTR contract.
Dagger Unmanned develops high-speed, highly maneuverable and intelligent UAS platforms engineered for austere and contested environments. The portfolio is led by Program Manager Dr. Agamemnon Crassidis, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Rochester Institute of Technology.
02 / Capabilities
High-speed tilt-rotor
Vertical takeoff with high-speed forward flight.
Autonomous teaming
Designed for autonomous teaming and manned-unmanned operations.
Tactical reconnaissance
Real-time reconnaissance in contested environments.
Survivability
Built for survivability and mission adaptability in austere environments.
03 / Specifications
Developed by Dagger Unmanned, a VESS company. Detailed technical data is provided to qualified organizations on request.
- Designation
- AP/03
- Class
- Autonomous tilt-rotor UAV
- Developer
- Dagger Unmanned LLC, a VESS company
- Configuration
- Tilt-rotor UAV, fully attritable concept
- Program
- AFWERX STTR Phase I; Phase II ($1.8M) for Gen-2
- Sponsor
- U.S. Air Force / AFRL
- Status
- In development
04 / In the system
Dagger / Dagger Gen-2 operates at the sense stage of the VESS mission loop.
- 01
Sense
Collect imagery and signals
- 02
Understand
Detect, track and classify
- 03
Map
Build terrain and hold position
- 04
Act
Decide, connect and respond
05 / Applications
- 01High-speed tactical reconnaissance
- 02Autonomous teaming
- 03Precision strike
- 04Contested logistics
Aircraft Platforms
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