The US Army’s 173rd Airborne Brigade has conducted the first test in the United States of a drone shooting down another drone.
The US Army’s 173rd Airborne Brigade, known as the “Sky Soldiers,” has conducted what officials say is the first test in the United States of a first-person-view drone shooting down another unmanned aerial vehicle.
The exercise, carried out under the Shank Project in coordination with the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center , used a SkyRaider quadcopter armed with a Claymore anti-personnel mine, the Army said in a statement.“In the skies above Fort Rucker, the first airborne destruction of an aircraft by an armed FPV drone in the history of the U.S. Army was carried out,” the statement read. The demonstration occurred just before the Army’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Summit.Claymore anti-personnel mineChief Warrant Officer 2 Nathan Shea piloted the SkyRaider, while Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Topits operated the perceived hostile drone. Footage released by the Army shows the SkyRaider maneuvering close to its target before detonating the mine.The interceptor drone temporarily lost stability and communications when the Claymore went off. Still, the connection was restored seconds later, indicating the platform could be used as a reusable air-to-air interceptor.Images from the trial do not clearly show how the Claymore was mounted on the drone or what firing mechanism was used. Based on the footage, the operator appeared to manually trigger the mine after closing in on the opposing drone.A Sky Soldier–flown FPV drone. A claymore mine. One midair kill. Over the skies of Fort Rucker, the 173rd Airborne Brigade, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, and DEVCOM AC’s Project Shank made history with the Army’s first air-to-air kill by an armed FPV drone. pic.twitter.com/KXBa74LRj4— 173rdAirborneBrigade August 12, 2025First developed in the 1950s, the M18 Claymore is a directional landmine designed to be emplaced on the ground and triggered by a tripwire or manual detonator. Its curved plastic casing contains C-4 explosive and about 700 steel ball bearings, which are propelled in a 60-degree cone-shaped blast to an effective range of about 820 feet .Military analysts say the Claymore’s wide blast pattern makes it well-suited to engaging small, agile aerial targets. That advantage is critical in low-cost, short-range drone combat, where reaction time and hit probability are challenging.Drone-on-drone combatDrone-on-drone combat has become a defining feature of the war in Ukraine, where small quadcopters and FPV drones are used not only for reconnaissance and strike missions but also to hunt down other unmanned systems. Videos from the conflict show how manual interceptions require precision flying and rapid decision-making. Russian forces, for example, have mounted rear-facing cameras to detect approaching drones, allowing operators to evade or counterattack. Reports also suggest some units are experimenting with basic automated collision detection systems to aid in avoidance.The SkyRaider, produced by Aeryon Defense USA, is an open-architecture platform that can be adapted for different payloads and missions. This year, the US military has been incorporating lessons from the Ukraine conflict, including developing drone-mounted ammunition drop systems for American units. One such system was tested earlier in Germany.Those munitions drop trials are part of a wider Army modernization program and pilot initiative to enhance small-unit capabilities in contested environments. The Department of Defense recently approved the Skydio X10D quadcopter for Army use, and it is expected to become the primary platform for delivering such payloads.Officials said the FPV drone interception test marks a milestone in US drone warfare experimentation, as the Army looks to adapt rapidly evolving commercial and battlefield technologies for its own operational needs.
Defense &Amp Military Drone Interceptor Drone Mine UAV US Army
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