On 12/8, the US Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade released a video of a first-person view (FPV) drone, the Skyraider, being tested at Fort Rucker, Alabama. The drone was equipped with a Claymore mine and pursued a red UAV.
A large explosion occurred when the drone approached the UAV from behind, causing both to crash. The 173rd Brigade stated this was the first time the US Army used an FPV drone to down an aerial target.
The method used to detonate the mine on the drone remains unclear. "The operator seems to have manually detonated the mine after maneuvering the drone close to the target," observed Joseph Trevithick of the military website War Zone.
The US FPV drone downs a target UAV in a video published on 12/8. Video: 173rd Brigade
The M18A1 Claymore is an anti-personnel mine widely used by the US military during the Cold War. It was designed to be placed on the ground and detonated by tripwire or remotely.
The mine is filled with C-4 explosive and, upon detonation, releases 700 metal balls in a 60-degree fan shape, with a maximum lethal radius of 250 m. Each ball has nearly the same penetrating power as a bullet.
"The Claymore is a suitable weapon for this low-tech form of air combat. The mine's detonation method is effective against small, highly mobile targets," Trevithick stated.
The US military has recently been criticized for lagging behind other nations in drone technology. Both Russian and Ukrainian forces have deployed various drones specifically designed to intercept enemy aircraft, a more cost-effective approach compared to using expensive anti-aircraft missiles.
In July, the US Army posted a video showcasing a grenade-dropping drone, a technology that has been around for almost a decade. The video was met with ridicule and subsequently deleted.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth acknowledged that Washington is behind in drone technology and announced new policies and investments to close the gap with other countries.
Pham Giang (War Zone)
