Military drones stolen from Fort Campbell base in Kentucky
Two suspects stole AI-enabled military drones from a US Army base in Kentucky in November, prompting a criminal investigation with a $5,000 reward. The theft raised security concerns amid Iran tensions, with officials warning of potential retaliatory drone attacks on US territory.
What happened
Two individuals stole Skydio X10D drones from Fort Campbell military base in Kentucky between November 21-24. The Army's Criminal Investigation Command offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the thieves and released photographs of two suspects wearing gloves, light jackets, winter hats, with one wearing a mask.
Reported impact
The theft sparked security concerns amid escalating tensions with Iran, with fears the stolen drones could be used for attacks on US territory. The FBI warned local law enforcement of a potential Iranian retaliatory drone strike against targets in California using unmanned aircraft launched from an unidentified vessel off US coasts.
Index analysis
The Skydio X10D drones are equipped with AI for obstacle avoidance and can connect to 5G cellular networks, giving them nearly unlimited signal range. Each drone is valued at approximately $30,000.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.