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

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/interesting-things-with-jc-5049896/1628-shooting-drones-with-an-f-35
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/interesting-things-with-jc-5049896/1628-shooting-drones-with-an-f-35.md
Podcast: [Interesting Things with JC](https://stenobird.com/podcast/interesting-things-with-jc-5049896)
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-5049896/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 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.

## 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

## Topics

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

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

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## Transcript

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