Ukraine's FP-5 Flamingo cruise missile uses an open-source Ardupilot autopilot, costing far less than comparable missiles like the Tomahawk.
The missile carries a warhead twice as heavy as a Tomahawk and can fly twice the distance, but at a fraction of the cost due to hobby-grade components.
Open-source software like Ardupilot provides independence from foreign companies and benefits from a large community of engineers for bug fixes.
The New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) published a draft drone manual allowing weaponized drones with superintendent approval, but later replaced it with a version banning weapons.
NOPD claims the weaponized drone rules were an early draft, but the incident highlights the department's history of pushing surveillance boundaries and evading public scrutiny.
Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) regulations prohibit arming drones with dangerous weapons, but experts note these rules are outdated and often ignored by law enforcement.