The US Army evaluated the FD-1 interceptor drone during Operation Audacious Fury between 2 and 6 November at the Ustka training area in Poland, according to a military statement. The assessment tested lower-cost air defence options against Group 1 to Group 3 uncrewed aerial systems to avoid firing costly anti-aircraft missiles at mass drone attacks.
The Tactics, Integration and Employment Battery of the 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment conducted the live trials under the 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade. Soldiers created deployment guidelines and built a training and certification track for personnel with no background in flying first-person-view drones.
Battalion commander Lieutenant Colonel John Verwiel stated that the objective is to standardise training and engagement steps, with battery personnel scheduled to instruct other US Army units across Europe and Africa.
Mountain Horse Solutions, a subsidiary of Global Ordnance, produces the FD-1. The manufacturer claims the compact drone can be prepared and launched by a single operator in less than two minutes, with human authorisation required for each engagement. The army statement did not include interception success rates or engagement costs.
