The British Army is encouraging troops to take up clay pigeon shooting as a means to improve their ability to counter unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones. This initiative comes amid increasing concerns over drone warfare and follows lessons learned from ongoing conflicts where drones have become a prevalent threat.

Capt. Peter Meager, head of the Army Clay Pigeon Shooting Team, highlighted that practicing clay target shooting can enhance soldiers' skills in targeting and neutralizing drones. Several units have already expressed interest in training at new Army clay pigeon ranges, with the objective of refining their marksmanship against moving aerial targets. Capt. Meager noted that, with proper coaching, many find they perform better than expected. However, he emphasized that the shotgun should remain a weapon of last resort in engagements against UAVs.

The move to incorporate clay pigeon shooting into training is linked to Operation Interflex, the British-led program to train Ukrainian forces in the UK. Ukrainian trainees reported their use of shotguns to shoot down kamikaze drones on the battlefield, prompting the British Army to facilitate similar training opportunities for its soldiers during their downtime.

Historically, the Royal Air Force also employed clay pigeon shooting for training purposes during the Second World War. Ken Fenton, a former RAF Blenheim bomber pilot from Yorkshire, learned deflection shooting and target anticipation through clay target practice, as recounted by his son.

The prominence of drones in modern conflict is underscored by their extensive use in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, where Ukraine reportedly deploys around 9,000 drones daily and claims to destroy approximately 30,000 Russian drones each month. Beyond Eastern Europe, drone warfare features prominently in other conflicts involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.

In response to the growing importance of drone technology, the UK is enhancing its drone capabilities as well. Al Carns, a former Armed Forces minister who recently resigned over funding disagreements, warned of the country’s insufficient stockpile of drones, which could be depleted rapidly in the event of a major conflict, particularly with Russia.

Gen. Sir Roly Walker, head of the British Army, stressed the future integration of AI-powered land-based and aerial drones alongside frontline troops. Speaking at the RUSI Land Warfare Conference in London, he stated that crewed ground vehicles will increasingly deploy only when accompanied by uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs), reflecting a strategic shift toward combined human-machine operations on the battlefield.