Direct proof of use
Drone-dropped modified RPG or shaped-charge munitions are documented in the 2023 Israel-Hamas War through reporting and analysis of the Hamas-led 7 October 2023 attack. Perspectives on Terrorism, published by the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism, reported that Hamas-released footage of a strike near the Kisufim border crossing featured a DJI Matrice 600 carrying what appeared to be a modified RPG munition.
European Security & Defence separately reported that Hamas videos and IDF photos of captured Hamas equipment showed multi-rotor UAVs used to drop RPG rounds on IDF surveillance towers along the Gaza border fence, and that at least some appeared to be DJI Matrice 600 rotary-wing UAVs. CTC Sentinel described the same conflict pattern more broadly, saying Hamas used commercial drones as aerial munition platforms and often modified RPG-7 warheads for drops on Israeli tanks, armored vehicles, infantry, and civilian targets.
Sources: Perspectives on Terrorism Drone Attack Study, Euro-SD Hamas Battle Plan Report, CTC Sentinel Drone Terrorism Study
Timeline
On 7 October 2023, Hamas-led forces opened their assault with rockets, missiles, mortars, drones, and possibly loitering munitions while border attacks unfolded. Perspectives on Terrorism says modified commercial drones were used at some border locations to drop munitions on Israeli observation and communication towers, and that other modified DJI and Autel drones dropped munitions directly on Israeli troops and tanks early in the assault.
The most munition-specific public description in the record concerns the Kisufim area. Perspectives on Terrorism reported that a drone-delivered armor-piercing munition appeared in the strike against a Merkava IV main battle tank near the Kisufim border crossing, with Hamas-released footage apparently showing a Matrice 600 carrying a modified RPG munition. The same article assessed that the drone strikes helped enable breaches of Israeli defense lines and impeded an immediate armored response in the area.
Sources: Perspectives on Terrorism Drone Attack Study
Battlefield role
In this conflict, the munition was not a standardized factory aerial bomb. The cited sources describe a field-adapted payload category: RPG-derived or shaped-charge warheads repackaged for release from commercial drones, especially heavier multi-rotor systems. JPost reported shortly after the attack that Hamas used small drones converted to carry munitions against IDF observation posts, including one with a remote machine gun, and cited Israeli reporting that the drones carried small munitions in drop pods.
The documented role was tactical attack and disruption in the opening assault. Against fixed border infrastructure, drone-dropped munitions hit observation, communication, surveillance, and armed tower targets. Against mobile or personnel targets, the public sources describe drops against Israeli troops, tanks, armored vehicles, infantry, and the Merkava tank near Kisufim. The evidence supports direct Hamas-led use on 7 October 2023, but it does not establish a single factory projectile model for every dropped munition or a complete count of successful strikes.
Sources: JPost Commercial Drone Analysis, Perspectives on Terrorism Drone Attack Study, Euro-SD Hamas Battle Plan Report, CTC Sentinel Drone Terrorism Study
