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Episode

1628: "Shooting Drones with an F-35"

Podcast
Interesting Things with JC
Published
Apr 20, 2026
Duration seconds
176
Processing state
processed
Canonical source
https://jimconnors.net/interesting-things-with-jc/2026/4/20/1628-shooting-drones-with-an-f-35
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https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5bba2d6fca525b3efa21591f/t/69e56543103e9f7bc5f4a98a/1776641351937/1628+-+Interesting+Things+-+Shooting+Drones+with+an+F-35.mp3
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Markdown
/podcast/interesting-things-with-jc-5049896/1628-shooting-drones-with-an-f-35.md

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Summary

Intercepting slow-moving drones with a supersonic F-35 requires pilots to actively resist the aircraft's natural speed to maintain a viable engagement geometry. Success depends on fusing infrared and optical data to solve the intercept before the aircraft's limited missile inventory is exhausted by a swarm.

Topics

  • F-35 Lightning II
  • Drone Interception
  • Sensor Fusion
  • Infrared Tracking
  • Aerial Combat Tactics
  • Electronic Warfare
  • Munitions Management
  • Aerodynamics

Highlights

  • Main idea: Effective drone interception requires matching the target's slow speed rather than utilizing the fighter's maximum velocity
  • Technical mechanism: The F-35 utilizes fused infrared and optical tracking to predict drone paths and calculate intercept solutions
  • Failure mode: Excessive closure rates turn an intercept into a simple pass, while insufficient speed causes the engagement geometry to collapse
  • Practical takeaway: Pilots must manage a sequence of targets under strict munitions constraints to prevent running out of weapons during a swarm attack
  • Critical constraint: The window for a successful shot relies on the precise alignment of direction, closure rate, and predicted path

Chapters

  1. 0:00 The Challenge of Speed Mismatch: The difficulty of a fighter pilot resisting supersonic instincts to match the slow velocity of a drone.
  2. 0:30 Sensor Fusion and Tracking: How infrared signals and optical tracking create a unified picture of a low-signature target.
  3. 1:00 Maintaining Engagement Geometry: The importance of managing closure rates to ensure the intercept solution remains valid.
  4. 1:30 Single Target vs. Swarm Dynamics: The transition from managing a single predictable intercept to handling multiple simultaneous threats.
  5. 1:50 Managing Sequential Constraints: The tactical pressure of selecting targets and managing limited missile counts during sustained engagements.