Check at Fort Rucker Marks Milestone in Counter-Drone Growth
The U.S. Military has introduced what it calls its first-ever air-to-air kill by an armed first-person-view (FPV) drone, a step that might affect future counter-unmanned plane techniques (C-UAS) technique. Based on an official Military Europe & Africa video launch, the demonstration passed off over Fort Rucker (Fort Novosel), Alabama, and concerned the 173rd Airborne Brigade, the Pennsylvania Military Nationwide Guard, and the Fight Capabilities Growth Command Armaments Middle (Challenge Shank).
How the Demonstration Labored
Within the take a look at, an FPV quadcopter—recognized in open-source reporting as a SkyRaider platform—carried a Claymore anti-personnel mine as its payload. The drone maneuvered towards a goal drone in flight and detonated the Claymore in shut proximity, destroying the goal.
Military captions observe that after detonation the FPV drone briefly misplaced hyperlink however was capable of get better, suggesting the potential of reusing such techniques in sure situations. Whereas kinetic interceptors aren’t new, the mixture of low-cost FPV platforms and man-portable munitions affords a possible reply to the “price curve” drawback in counter-drone warfare, the place small hostile drones are cheap to discipline however expensive to defeat.
Alignment with Military Acquisition Efforts
The demonstration aligns intently with an Military Fast Capabilities and Important Applied sciences Workplace (RCCTO) request for data (RFI) issued on June 25, 2025. That RFI sought options for Man-Transportable Interceptor Plane—light-weight, rucksack-portable techniques able to partaking and destroying small drones (Teams 1–3) past visible vary.
The Military’s curiosity in man-portable interceptors displays an ongoing push throughout the U.S. navy for layered counter-drone capabilities, as documented in current Congressional Analysis Service briefs. Whereas techniques just like the Raytheon Coyote interceptor deal with sure mission profiles, armed FPV drones might fill a niche for dismounted troopers and small items working in distant or austere environments.
Strategic Context
This take a look at comes amid fast innovation in each offensive and defensive unmanned techniques. Adversaries have more and more employed small, quick, and expendable drones on the battlefield, forcing militaries to adapt with extra agile, lower-cost countermeasures.
The Military’s Fort Rucker demonstration underscores a rising willingness to discover unconventional platforms and payloads. Whether or not this particular method—arming FPV drones with explosive expenses—turns into an operational functionality will rely on additional testing, security evaluations, and integration into doctrine.
Beneath present U.S. regulation, solely sure federal companies are licensed to make use of counter-UAS applied sciences. Civilian operators, together with industrial drone pilots, are prohibited from utilizing techniques that intercept, disable, or destroy drones.
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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, an expert drone providers market, and a fascinated observer of the rising drone trade and the regulatory surroundings for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles targeted on the industrial drone house and is a global speaker and acknowledged determine within the trade. Miriam has a level from the College of Chicago and over 20 years of expertise in excessive tech gross sales and advertising and marketing for brand new applied sciences.
For drone trade consulting or writing, E-mail Miriam.
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