The best offense? The Golden Dome and Ratel’s mine-laying drones
This week on Weapons and Warfare, host Ryan Robertson takes a look at the innovative agreement between AeroVironment (AV) and Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), while exploring their possible role in the Golden Dome initiative. Ryan also examines the potential of their partnership on national security and how it could help shape the future of national defense and the strategic role of the Golden Dome project.
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President Donald Trump announced a sweeping new missile defense initiative just one week into his second term, unveiling the “Golden Dome” system during a Jan. 27 Oval Office address. The plan builds on the Reagan-era “Star Wars” concept and Israel’s Iron Dome, aiming to shield the United States from all missile threats.
“This is a historic announcement,” Trump said. “We will truly be completing the job that President Reagan started 40 years ago, forever ending the missile threat to the American homeland.”
If realized, the Golden Dome would become the largest and most expensive missile defense system ever built. While still in its early stages, the initiative has already sparked movement in the defense industry.
At the 2025 Association of the United States Army conference, AeroVironment and Sierra Nevada Corporation announced a partnership to develop the system’s framework at Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota.
“This is a today threat, and it needs ready-now solutions,” said Jon Piatt, executive vice president for intelligence, aviation and security at Sierra Nevada. “That is why it is a natural fit for our companies to come together.”
The goal is to create a scalable blueprint to defend military installations and critical infrastructure from a range of airborne threats. AeroVironment CEO Wahid Nawabi said the companies already produce the necessary systems and have the capacity to deliver immediately.
“These are not prototypes,” Nawabi said. “These are systems that have already been deployed in various configurations, and we are producing them today.”
The companies launched the venture without a Department of Defense contract, describing the move as proactive.
“We cannot always wait for a contract,” Piatt said. “Sometimes we have to get ahead of it.”
Retired Col. Jimmy Jenkins III, now an executive at AeroVironment, said early investment was key to meeting national defense needs.
“We know the customer wants us to be agile and fast,” Jenkins said. “You do not achieve that without investing early.”
Development will take place at Grand Sky, a commercial unmanned aerial systems park located within Grand Forks Air Force Base. The companies emphasized cost efficiency, aiming to avoid using multimillion-dollar missiles against low-cost threats like drones.
“Our system uses expensive assets for high-value threats and a distributed architecture to neutralize lower-cost threats before they reach critical assets,” said Larry Lloyd, vice president of business development at ATA.
Nawabi said the open architecture approach would allow for modular, interoperable systems that can evolve over time and integrate products from other companies.
If successful, the system could expand to Camp Grafton and Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota.
Following the announcement, AeroVironment received a $95.9 million Army contract to supply its Freedom Eagle (FE-1) kinetic counter-UAS missile as part of the long-range interceptor program.
Weapon of the Week: Ratel Robotics redefines minefield tactics in Ukraine
In Ukraine’s ongoing war with Russia, minefields remain one of the most effective tools for slowing enemy advances. Ratel Robotics is helping Ukrainian forces deploy those defenses with unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) designed for remote mine-laying and battlefield logistics.
This week’s Weapon of the Week is Ratel’s mine-laying UGV — a compact, modular robot built to deliver anti-tank mines without risking human lives.
“We designed these small units in 2023 to destroy distant enemy positions, vehicles, and shelters,” said Ruslan, a representative from Ratel Robotics who did not give his full name for safety reasons. “Later, the Ministry of Defense asked us to expand their mine-laying capabilities.”
Ratel responded by developing a mine-layer add-on for its existing drone platform. The system can remotely deploy anti-tank mines and act as a detonator, extending the radio horizon for remote activation.
“It can place mines and trigger them remotely,” Ruslan said. “It’s a flexible, reliable tool for frontline defense.”
As FPV drone use intensified in late 2023, Ratel shifted focus to logistics. The company developed the Ratel LM — a medium-class UGV designed to transport supplies across the battlefield.
The Ratel LM carries up to 450 kilograms and travels up to 40 kilometers. It’s fully electric and remotely operated, with dual control teams to maintain communication even if one terminal is damaged.
“We operate with two teams — one near the front, one farther back,” Ruslan said. “That keeps the system online under pressure.”
Today, nearly 25 Ukrainian brigades use Ratel’s UGVs for supply runs, evacuations, and battlefield support. The robots deliver ammunition, fuel, drones, and generators — without exposing personnel to enemy fire.
“We’re trying to make them cheap and reliable enough to replace people at the front,” Ruslan said. “Our robots save lives.”
Ratel’s team includes veterans and active-duty personnel who design and test the systems based on real combat needs. The company also builds its platforms for modular upgrades, including weapon mounts and jamming systems.
“We designed this for ourselves,” Ruslan said. “We still use it on the battlefield.”
The Ratel LM costs between $20,000 and $25,000, depending on materials and configuration. Compared to manned vehicles, it offers a cost-effective alternative for high-risk missions.
“One FPV drone can destroy a truck,” Ruslan said. “That’s why these robots must be affordable and expendable.”
As Ukraine continues to innovate under fire, companies like Ratel Robotics are redefining battlefield logistics — bringing automation, survivability, and adaptability to the front lines.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
