The Army’s “Project Shank,” previously known as Project Shiv, pairs one-way, first-person-view (FPV) drones with existing explosively formed penetrator warheads.
The US Army recently achieved its first air-to-air kill of a drone through the use of another drone.
As unmanned aerial systems are increasingly becoming a popular method to wage warfare around the world—particularly in Ukraine, where low-cost and deadly drones have fundamentally reshaped the conflict—developing systems and techniques to shoot down drones is becoming a priority for the US military.
Now, the Army has debuted a hunter-killer drone designed to take out enemy unmanned aerial systems on the battlefield.
About America’s Hunter-Killer Drone
In a video released by the 173rd Airborne Brigade, a red target drone can be seen flying at a low altitude. All of a sudden, the 173rd drone dives from the right and crashes on the target, sending both drones spiraling down to the ground.
“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 [Development Command Armaments Center] Project Shank made history with the Army’s first air-to-air kill by an armed FPV [First Person View] drone,” the 173rd Airborne Brigade said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Neutralizing enemy unmanned aerial systems can be done either by electronic warfare means—wrestling away control of a drone from its operator and landing it or destroying it—or through more conventional kinetic means.
As the 173rd’s description states, the hunter-killer drone was armed with a claymore mine for its explosive payload.
“Chief Warrant Officer 2 Nate Shea piloted the Skyraider, armed with a claymore mine, while Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Topits maneuvered the opposing unmanned aircraft system (UAS) during a dogfight above Tabernacle Field. The demonstration took place ahead of the US Army Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Summit,” US Army Europe and Africa Command stated.
The Army’s “Project Shank,” previously known as Project Shiv, pairs one-way, first-person-view (FPV) drones with existing explosively formed penetrator warheads. This modular approach allows frontline units to easily adapt their munitions to small drones to be used tactically.
Every Military in the World Is Focused on Drones
The US military is a pioneer in unmanned aerial systems technology, with programs dating back to the 1990s. The acute demands of the Global War on Terror for surveillance and strike unmanned platforms drove additional development. Indeed, the most enduring symbol of that war was likely the General Atomics MQ-1 Predator drone, which conducted thousands of remotely-piloted airstrikes against insurgent targets in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Today, the US military is investing money and resources in drone and counter-drone technologies, though more can be done. However, it has been the war in Ukraine that has truly revolutionized drone application and tactics. The Ukrainian and Russian militaries have relied increasingly more on unmanned aerial systems to advance their tactical, operational, and even strategic objectives.
From homemade drones made in garages to advanced unmanned aerial systems using Western parts, drones are everywhere on the battlefield. Ukrainian and Russian troops use drones to kill or maim individual soldiers, destroy main battle tanks, find artillery pieces, take out warships and strategic bombers, strike critical infrastructure, and reconnoiter the battlefield. Other US adversaries, including China and Iran, are also investing heavily in aerial drone technology.
The Army’s first hunter-killer drone success suggests that the US military is taking the emerging drone threat seriously.
About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
Image: Shutterstock / marina.rodrigues.
