US Army scores first air-to-air kill using 'mine-loaded' drone

The US Army’s 173rd Airborne Brigade, in collaboration with the Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center (DEVCOM AC), has successfully conducted the first-ever air-to-air kill using an armed first-person-view (FPV) drone. During the exercise at Fort Rucker, a SkyRaider quadcopter equipped with a Claymore anti-personnel mine intercepted and destroyed a hostile unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The Claymore mine, traditionally a ground-based directional landmine containing C-4 explosive and steel ball bearings, was manually detonated by the drone operator after maneuvering close to the target. Despite temporary loss of stability and communications following the blast, the interceptor drone quickly regained control, demonstrating potential for reuse in future air-to-air engagements. This milestone reflects growing interest in drone-on-drone combat, a tactic increasingly prominent in conflicts such as the war in Ukraine, where small quadcopters and FPV drones are used both for reconnaissance and to neutralize enemy drones