An American Shahed: Griffon Aerospace Unveiled MQM-172 Arrowhead Drone
Alabama-based Griffon Aerospace has unveiled its new MQM-172 Arrowhead unmanned aircraft system – a dual-role drone built as both a high-performance aerial target and a kamikaze-style strike asset. The company describes Arrowhead as “purpose-built” for flexibility across multiple mission sets. The drone was formally unveiled on 18 August at the AUVSI Pathfinder conference in Huntsville, Alabama. Griffon notes that Arrowhead was developed, tested, and constructed entirely in-house, leveraging its experience with over 12,000 unmanned aerial systems delivered to date.
Arrowhead’s shape is inspired by the Iranian Shahed-136 loitering munition and features a compact delta wing and twin winglets. Its primary mission is as a reusable target drone for air-defense training, but it can be fitted with an explosive warhead for one-way strike missions as needed. The drone features a modular payload bay rated for up to 100 pounds (45 kg), allowing operators to switch between sensor packages, electronic warfare modules, or a munitions payload. Arrowhead can be launched from mobile truck-mounted catapults or other ground platforms.
It is powered by a small four-cylinder air-cooled piston engine similar to that used on Shahed drones and navigates autonomously using GPS and an inertial guidance system. Griffon has not disclosed official speed or range figures. Arrowhead demonstrated reliable performance in tests with a 100-lb payload – enough for sizable surveillance, jammer, or warhead loads. Griffon notes the design can accommodate different specialized noses for reconnaissance or strike roles.
The Arrowhead joins a growing trend of U.S. drones that mimic adversary loitering munitions to improve training realism. Industry observers note its close resemblance to the Shahed/Geran series, and its modular design and low cost aim to help the U.S. military both practice against and deploy Shahed-like threats. The Arrowhead is entirely built in America and tailored for U.S. needs. Griffon pitches it as an affordable, versatile tool for the Army, Navy, and allied forces – useful as a reusable red-team target or as an expendable strike asset. Its quick-launch capability and emphasis on cost-efficiency should make it attractive to combat training programs and defense contractors alike. The MQM-172 Arrowhead represents the latest in Griffon’s line of modular target drones, now enhanced with optional strike capability to meet today’s evolving unmanned warfare requirements.