TDR-1

The Interstate TDR‑1 (Target Drone, Remote) was an American experimental combat drone built by Interstate Aircraft and Engineering Corporation during World War II. Conceived in 1942 as a “radio‑controlled target” for the Navy, the aircraft quickly evolved into a proof‑of‑concept weapon that could strike enemy ships without risking a pilot. Its twin‑boom, all‑metal airframe was powered by two 125 hp Lycoming O‑290 engines mounted side‑by‑side, driving a single propeller in a pusher configuration. The TDR‑1’s central fuselage carried a 2,000‑lb bomb or depth charge and could be guided from the deck of a carrier or a shore‑based control station using AM radio link and visual flares for homing. A total of 44 airframes were produced; eight saw combat in the Pacific in 1944, where they successfully attacked Japanese shipping and were even captured and reverse‑engineered by the enemy. The TDR‑1’s operational use marked the world’s first deployment of an autonomous aerial weapon, laying the groundwork for modern UAV technology. Its legacy endures as a pioneering step that demonstrated the strategic value of unmanned, remotely piloted aircraft in warfare. Today, the TDR‑1 is celebrated in museums as a milestone in aviation history.