# 1628: "Shooting Drones with an F-35"

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/interesting-things-with-jc-4639155/1628-shooting-drones-with-an-f-35
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/interesting-things-with-jc-4639155/1628-shooting-drones-with-an-f-35.md
Podcast: [Interesting Things with JC](https://stenobird.com/podcast/interesting-things-with-jc-4639155)
Published: 2026-04-20T07:00:50+00:00
Episode link: https://jimconnors.net/interesting-things-with-jc/2026/4/20/1628-shooting-drones-with-an-f-35
Audio file: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5bba2d6fca525b3efa21591f/t/69e56543103e9f7bc5f4a98a/1776641351937/1628+-+Interesting+Things+-+Shooting+Drones+with+an+F-35.mp3
Processing state: processed
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/interesting-things-with-jc-4639155/episodes/1628-shooting-drones-with-an-f-35
Duration seconds: 176

## Resource

Intercepting slow-moving drones with a supersonic F-35 requires pilots to actively resist the aircraft's natural speed to maintain a viable firing solution. Success depends on fusing infrared and optical data to manage complex engagement geometries under strict munitions constraints.

## Highlights
- Main idea: Effective drone interception relies on sensor fusion of infrared and optical tracking rather than raw aircraft speed
- Technical challenge: Pilots must match the slow velocity of drones to prevent the intercept from becoming a simple pass
- Failure mode: Excessive closure rates or poor geometry can cause the tracking solution to collapse before a shot can be taken
- Practical takeaway: Managing multiple targets requires disciplined selection and timing to avoid exhausting limited missile inventories
- Strategic constraint: The engagement becomes a resource management problem where every shot must be precise before the aircraft must egress

## Topics

F-35, Drone Interception, Infrared Tracking, Sensor Fusion, Aerial Combat, Electronic Warfare, Aerospace Engineering, Target Acquisition

## Chapters
- 0:00 — The Challenge of Slow Targets: The difficulty of matching a supersonic fighter's speed to a target moving as slowly as highway traffic.
- 0:30 — Sensor Fusion and Tracking: How infrared signals and optical tracking create a predictive path for the intercept.
- 1:00 — Maintaining Engagement Geometry: The critical balance of speed and approach angle required to keep the target within the firing solution.
- 1:40 — Engaging Multiple Threats: The shift from single-target tracking to managing a sequence of incoming drones.
- 2:20 — Resource Constraints and Discipline: The pressure of managing limited munitions and the necessity of precise shot selection under combat pressure.

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## Transcript

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