Drone Hunting Drones; U.S. MQ-9 Reaper Achieves First Ever UAV Air to Air Kill in Combat Test

While the United States has relied on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) for military roles for several decades, including extensive use of surveillance drones in the early stages of the Cold War, the country came to rely heavily on the these aircraft under the Obama administration from 2009 for combat roles. The U.S. currently retains a considerable lead in drone technology over competitors in the field, and has invested heavily in developing platforms which can take on a larger number of combat roles - thus reducing the risks to servicemen in the field and the costs of strike operations across the world. Combat roles for American drones however have as of 2018 been restricted entirely to air to ground strike operations, while the U.S. fighter fleet bears the full responsibility for striking enemy aircraft - a role which they are very rarely called upon to fulfil in the 21st century due to the lack of major inter state wars comparable to those of the Cold War and immediate post Cold War years.

As U.S. drone technologies have grown increasingly sophisticated, the military has increasingly sought to develop a UAV capable of engaging in an air to air combat role. Developing such capabilities can be used as a foundation for the development of an unmanned variant of a sixth generation fighter jet. A medium weight drone capable of striking enemy aircraft could also be used to eliminate enemy light drones at a far lower cost than employing fighter jets would - with cost effective drones able to engage large numbers of enemy aircraft which would otherwise may overwhelm the American fighter fleet. As the ongoing war in Syria has demonstrated, all manner of parties are capable of today operating light UAVs for surveillance and in some cases combat roles, from Israel and Iran to Turkey and the Islamic State.

Marking a revolution in the evolution of air to air combat, a U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drone has accomplished its first ever air to air kill. The strike was carried out against a small drone, and represents the very first time an American UAV has carried out a kill against an aircraft. U.S. Air Force Colonel Julian Cheater stated regarding the testing of the Reaper in a new role: "It was an MQ-9 versus a drone with a heat seeking air to air missile, and it was a direct hit." He further stated regarding the test: "We develop those tactics, techniques and procedures to make us survivable in those types of environments, and, if we do this correctly, we can survive against some serious threats against normal air players out there.” With China and Israel investing heavily in the development of their own combat UAVs, the two are likely to also be preparing for the testing of an unmanned platform capable of air to air combat. China is also reportedly well on its way to developing an elite unmanned sixth generation fighter under the Dark Sword fighter program, and is the only party other than the United States and Iran to have developed a stealth drone. With the United States currently retaining a lead in UAV technologies however, the possibilities for how it can be used remain manifold.