Mexican Cartel Drone on Drone Kinetic Impact Incident: Russo-Ukrainian Battlefronts C-UAS Mimicking (Unconfirmed)
Updated: Sep 29
C/O Futures Mexican Cartel Imagery Archive
Robert J. Bunker
Note— Drawn primarily from information posted by Pernicious Propaganda (@natsecboogie) and Mexican narcos (@mexicannarcos) at X.
22 September 2026
Mexican Cartel Drone-on-Drone C-UAS Incident
A newly surfaced video from Michoacán, Mexico, may document an important development in cartel drone warfare: the use of one unmanned aerial system to physically ram and neutralize another cartel-operated drone.
The 38-second video, posted to social media on 22 September 2026, purportedly depicts a drone associated with Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) attacking a drone associated with Cárteles Unidos (CU). The incident remains unconfirmed, but if authenticated, it may represent the first identified imagery of Mexican cartel-on-cartel kinetic drone ramming used as a counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) tactic.
The apparent tactic is significant because similar drone-on-drone engagements have been utilized on the Russo-Ukrainian battlefronts. Its possible appearance in Mexico may represent another indication of these battlefield C-UAS tactics being mimicked within the Mexican cartel operational environment.
Key Findings
A 38-second video purportedly shows a CJNG-associated drone kinetically ramming an opposing Cárteles Unidos drone in Michoacán.
During its initial ascent, the aggressor drone appears to have a bomblet attached to it. The munition is no longer visible prior to the final collision with the opposing drone.
If the incident is authentic, it may represent the first identified imagery of Mexican cartel-on-cartel kinetic drone ramming for C-UAS purposes.
Social media discussion surrounding the incident has focused on whether the aircraft depicted is a DJI Matrice 400 or M300/350 RTK and whether the attached bomblet was deployed or became dislodged.
The apparent tactic resembles a C-UAS TTP utilized on the Russo-Ukrainian battlefronts, raising indications and warning (I&W) considerations concerning the continued evolution of Mexican cartel drone operations.
Why This Incident Matters
The significance of the incident is not simply that two cartel-operated drones appear to have encountered one another.
If the video and associated claims are accurate, the footage may document a new development in Mexican cartel counter-drone operations: the deliberate use of one drone as a kinetic C-UAS system against another drone.
Prior to this video, C/O Futures had identified no imagery of this specific C-UAS tactic being utilized by Mexican cartels. The archive also notes that no known incidents had been identified involving a Mexican cartel drone ramming a U.S. governmental or Mexican governmental drone.
The emergence of drone-on-drone kinetic engagements would therefore represent an important development to monitor.
If such incidents become more commonplace, cartel drone operations could increasingly involve not only intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, payload delivery, and attacks against personnel or ground targets, but also competition for control of the low-altitude airspace itself.
For law enforcement, homeland security, military, and intelligence personnel monitoring cartel drone evolution, this represents an important indications and warning (I&W) issue.
C/O Futures Imagery Archive
The C/O Futures Imagery Archive is utilized for security research areas when important imagery has been identified but only fragmentary information exists so that an actual Research Note is not warranted and/or cannot be produced.
The Archive is intended to provide a repository of visual information while also identifying timely indications and warning (I&W) potentials.
Additional information and analysis have been added to this specific archive due to the potential significance of the incident.
Incident Overview
The footage consists of a 38-second video purportedly depicting a Mexican cartel drone ramming an opposing cartel drone in Michoacán.
The aggressor drone is reported to belong to Dos Aguas and to be operated by CJNG (Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación). The targeted drone is reported to belong to Gente del R5/CU (Cárteles Unidos).
During the video, the aggressor drone initially ascends and misses the targeted drone. During this ascent, what appears to be a bomblet can be seen attached to the aggressor aircraft.
The aggressor subsequently descends and attacks the opposing drone again. Before the final collision, the bomblet is no longer visible.
The aggressor drone then collides with and apparently neutralizes the targeted aircraft.
The engagement takes place above what appears to be a cartel-associated vehicle positioned on the bend of a road in a wooded area, as viewed through an infrared camera.
Imagery From the Incident
Screen grabs from the purported Mexican cartel drone-on-drone engagement in Michoacán.
Watch the Drone-on-Drone Engagement
The sequence near the end of the video depicts the aggressor drone rapidly ascending toward the opposing aircraft before the apparent collision.
C/O Futures' archive contains sequential screen grabs from approximately 0:30–0:32 documenting this portion of the engagement.
The Bomblet Question
One of the unresolved aspects of the incident concerns the apparent munition attached to the aggressor drone.
The object can be observed during the drone's initial ascent but is no longer visible prior to the final collision.
Discussion surrounding the footage has considered multiple possibilities, including whether the munition was dropped toward the targeted drone or whether it became dislodged during the aggressor drone's initial maneuver.
The currently available imagery does not establish which explanation is correct.
Drone Identification
Discussion surrounding the footage has also focused on the model of drone depicted in the video.
Social media analysis referenced in the C/O Futures Imagery Archive has considered whether the aircraft is a DJI Matrice 400 or an M300/350 RTK-series platform.
The available information does not conclusively resolve the aircraft identification.
From the Russo-Ukrainian Battlefield to Mexican Cartel Operations
The potential significance of the incident extends beyond the destruction of a single drone.
Drone warfare associated with the Russo-Ukrainian conflict has produced rapidly evolving tactics, techniques, and procedures involving unmanned aerial systems and counter-UAS operations.
The apparent use of kinetic drone ramming by a Mexican cartel would represent the mimicking of a C-UAS TTP already observed on the Russo-Ukrainian battlefronts.
C/O Futures has previously examined other potential connections between developments in the Russo-Ukrainian conflict and the evolution of Mexican cartel drone capabilities, including reporting concerning cartel personnel allegedly training in Ukraine to learn FPV kamikaze drone TTPs.
The incident should therefore be considered within the broader context of the continuing evolution of cartel unmanned aerial systems rather than viewed solely as an isolated drone encounter.
Download the Full C/O Futures Imagery Archive
The complete six-page C/O Futures Mexican Cartel Imagery Archive contains the original imagery, source material, screen-grab sequence, additional commentary, and supporting references associated with this incident.
Related C/O Futures Research
C/O Futures previously examined reporting concerning Mexican and Colombian cartel personnel traveling to Ukraine and the potential acquisition of FPV kamikaze drone tactics, techniques, and procedures.
Additional C/O Futures research has examined the emergence of fiber-optic-controlled drone capabilities and their implications for Mexican cartel drone operations.
Robert J. Bunker and John P. Sullivan, eds., Criminal Drone Evolution: Cartel Weaponization of Aerial IEDs, examines the development and weaponization of cartel unmanned aerial systems and aerial improvised explosive devices.
Work With C/O Futures
C/O Futures provides specialized research, threat analysis, intelligence support, briefings, red teaming, and training related to emerging threats, adversarial technologies, and evolving operational environments.
Follow C/O Futures Research
Receive newly published C/O Futures research notes and analyses by email.
Comments