US Military First Buys Impact Interceptor Drones to Counter Drone Attrition Warfare

The U.S. Air Force is taking a new approach to drone warfare by placing a small batch order for "Guardian," an impact interception drone developed by U.S. defense startup Powerus. This move aims to address the significant cost disparity between intercepting low-cost enemy drones with expensive anti-missile systems. The "Guardian" drone is specifically designed to counter threats like Iran's "Shahed-136" suicide drones, which have frequently appeared on battlefields in Ukraine and the Middle East. Powerus has confirmed that the U.S. Air Force has placed an order for the semi-autonomous Guardian 2 system following successful testing, marking the first public confirmation of a U.S. government procurement. The Guardian features a carbon fiber body and can achieve speeds between 290 to 340 kilometers per hour, making it capable of intercepting drones like the Shahed-136, which typically fly at around 185 kilometers per hour. The system is designed for single-soldier portability and operation, primarily neutralizing targets through direct collision. U.S. personnel have already conducted simulated threat tests using the system at the National Training Center in California. The increasing use of drones in conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine war and Middle Eastern clashes has forced air defense units to deploy multi-million dollar interceptor missiles against drones costing only $20,000 to $30,000 each, rapidly escalating defense expenditures. Powerus claims its Guardian drone has completed thousands of interceptions, though this figure has not yet been independently verified by U.S. officials or third parties.