Quantum Systems shows Reliant long-range drone carrying 82 mm mortar rounds and 40 mm grenades

TLDR

• Quantum Systems showed its Reliant drone carrying 82 mm mortar rounds and 40 mm grenades on wing hardpoints.¹²
• The images came from a social media post by US chief executive Dave Sharpin, thanking partners from Orbital.¹²
• Defense WarRoom says the rounds appear painted blue, suggesting inert stores; Sharpin did not say if live drops occurred.²

Quantum Systems has shown an armed configuration of its Reliant long-range vertical takeoff drone, with a mixed load of 82 mm mortar rounds and 40 mm grenades on its wing hardpoints, according to Defence Blog and Defense WarRoom.¹² Dave Sharpin, chief executive of Quantum Systems Inc., the US arm of the German maker, published the images on 28 October and described a "mixed load out of 82mm and 40 mm munitions", per Defense WarRoom, which says the post was on LinkedIn.² Both articles say Sharpin thanked partners from Orbital.¹²

Defence Blog says Reliant was introduced at SOF Week in Tampa in May 2024 as a Group 2 aircraft, and that an upgraded version announced in July 2026 has a maximum takeoff weight of 45 kg and integrates with the company's MOSAIC UXS control software.¹ Defense WarRoom puts the upgraded payload capacity at 9 kg and endurance above 10 hours, and says the hardpoint variant was developed for the US market, where Reliant has also been presented as a carrier for Neros' Archer FPV attack drone.² It reports that Sharpin did not disclose the release mechanism, the targeting workflow, Orbital's contribution or whether live drops have taken place, and that Quantum Systems has not said whether hardpoint stores count against the 9 kg figure.² Both articles rest on Sharpin's post, so they are not independent confirmations of the configuration.

Why it matters: the company that markets Reliant for long-range reconnaissance has shown it with strike munitions, but with no disclosed release method, live drop or customer, the images show a configuration rather than a fielded capability.¹²