Army Secures Initial Airstrike Victory through Deployment of Drone Equipped with Claymore Mines
The US Army has made a significant breakthrough in drone warfare with the successful testing of a SkyRaider quadcopter equipped with a Claymore anti-personnel mine. This innovative approach, which employs proximity and a manually triggered explosive payload, marks a new era in drone-on-drone combat tactics.
The SkyRaider and Claymore Payload
Developed by Aeryon Defense USA, the SkyRaider is a man-packable quadcopter drone featuring an open-architecture design that supports various payloads. In this test, the SkyRaider was armed with a Claymore mine, a small curved block of C4 explosive embedded with about 700 steel ball bearings.
Drone Interception Test
During a test at Fort Rucker, Alabama, the SkyRaider engaged in a "dogfight" with an opposing commercially available UAS. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Nathan Shea piloted the SkyRaider, while Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Topits operated the perceived hostile drone. The pilot manually detonated the Claymore mine once in close proximity, causing a lethal shrapnel blast that downed the target drone mid-flight.
Despite the blast's impact briefly disrupting the SkyRaider’s controls and communications, it quickly recovered, highlighting the drone’s robustness and reusability compared to single-use loitering munitions.
Significance of the Test
This test represents the US Army's first successful air-to-air kill using an armed FPV drone. It reflects a tactical shift inspired by battlefield practices observed in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, where armed drones have been used creatively for air-to-ground and now air-to-air engagements. The approach provides a lightweight, low-cost, rapidly deployable counter-drone solution suited for contested environments with limited infrastructure.
Future of Drone Warfare
The FPV drone interception test is a milestone in US drone warfare experimentation. The Army is looking to adapt rapidly evolving commercial and battlefield technologies for its own operational needs. Some units are experimenting with basic automated collision detection systems to aid in avoidance.
The Department of Defense recently approved the Skydio X10D quadcopter for Army use, and it is expected to become the primary platform for delivering drone-mounted ammunition drop systems.
In the ongoing war in Ukraine, drone-on-drone combat has become a defining feature, with small quadcopters and FPV drones used for reconnaissance, strike missions, and hunting down other unmanned systems. Russian forces have mounted rear-facing cameras to detect approaching drones, allowing operators to evade or counterattack.
The test was carried out by the US Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade, known as the "Sky Soldiers." The interceptor drone temporarily lost stability and communications when the Claymore went off, but the connection was restored seconds later, indicating the platform could be used as a reusable air-to-air interceptor.
In summary, the SkyRaider with Claymore employs proximity and a manually triggered explosive payload to physically destroy enemy drones in flight through shrapnel dispersion, pioneering drone-on-drone combat tactics for the US Army that blend traditional mines with cutting-edge UAV technology.
The SkyRaider's employment of a Claymore mine, a technology originating from science and embedded within the drone's payload, Showcases the integration of innovation and advanced technology in modern warfare strategies.
The successful test of the SkyRaider equipped with a Claymore mine heralds a new era in drone warfare, where science and technology merge to create new, effective tactics for combating unmanned aerial systems.
