Drone mothership drops armed FPVs mid-air, extends strike reach in US test

Petrel Technologies demonstrated its AERO Sky hybrid VTOL drone with the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division at Fort Polk.

In the live-fire exercise, the aircraft launched armed FPV drones mid-air, showing a potential airborne drone-carrier concept.

The test suggests a way to extend the range and survivability of small strike drones in contested environments.

If developed further, the approach could change how militaries deploy unmanned systems for longer-range missions.