The US recently tested an FPV interceptor drone to try to shoot down a UAV. However, the results were not very good, Defense Express reports.
The experiment was conducted by the 173rd Airborne Brigade, together with the Pennsylvania National Guard and the Weapons Center of the US Army's Combat Capabilities Development Command.
The target of the experiment was an unknown flying wing drone. The interceptor was a reusable Skyraider reconnaissance quadcopter, which was converted into a disposable FPV. The warhead was a Claymore guided anti-personnel mine, which was suspended under the drone.
In the video released by the US military, it is clear that the target was moving slowly, but the Skyraider could not immediately catch up with it. In addition, there are questions about the very idea of retrofitting a reconnaissance drone for FPV. It is simply unprofitable, since a disposable kamikaze UAV is much cheaper than a reusable one intended for reconnaissance.
It is also worth noting that the target drone, although brightly colored, was sometimes difficult to see against the background of grass and forest. And in combat conditions, when the analog video channel is affected by enemy electronic warfare, this will be even more difficult.
Thus, the United States has already begun to assess the pros and cons of interceptor drones, but it is worth noting that Ukrainian systems exceed American ones in combat parameters several times. For example, this is a reusable interceptor drone with a Ukrainian-made shotgun.