South African Duo Shatters Drone Speed Record

A father-son duo in South Africa has set a new Guinness World Record for drone speed, reaching a ground speed of 408 mph with their custom-built quadcopter. The achievement highlights the rapid advancement of civilian drone technology and its potential applications in modern warfare.

Their design mirrors interceptor drones used by Ukrainian forces, though military applications face additional constraints. This milestone demonstrates how accessible new war-relevant technology has become for civilian hobbyists far from the battlefield.

Luke and Mike Bell performed the record-breaking flight on December 11, 2025, with their custom, battery-powered remote-controlled quadcopter, the Peregreen V4. The Guinness World Records organization confirmed the achievement in a statement released in January 2026.

The father-son team documented their entire design and build process on YouTube, filming themselves using a 3D printer and off-the-shelf parts to create their record-breaking drone. Their latest certification marks the third time they've attained the fastest-drone record.

The previous record holder was Australian drone maker Ben Biggs, who built a drone that reached 389 mph late last year. Before Biggs' record, the Bells' earlier quadcopter, the Peregreen V3, had flown at up to roughly 363 mph in the summer of 2025.

Guinness World Records requires aspiring drone record-breakers to fly their device in two opposing directions and then calculate the average speed to account for wind.

The Bells' drone features a dome-shaped head and four propellers extending from the lower body—much like many of the interceptor drones available on the Ukrainian market today. This design similarity underscores how civilian innovation mirrors military technology development.

These drones, developed primarily as a low-cost way of countering Russian Shahed-type loitering munitions, have become a pillar of Ukrainian air defense. Some of the fastest interceptors available to Ukrainian forces can reach 200 mph, which is also the typical velocity of a bullet train.

Ukrainians are trying to push their quadcopters to fly even faster. Flight speed is key for these interceptors because they're designed to chase and crash into Shaheds, and Russia has been continually ramping up the speeds of its attack drones.

• Dome-shaped head design
• Four propeller configuration
• Battery-powered operation
• Custom 3D-printed components

The Geran-2, a Shahed-type drone that Russia launches more commonly, can carry an explosive warhead for hundreds of miles at top speeds of 115 mph. Newer, jet-powered versions of Shaheds are estimated to fly up to 230 mph in some conditions.

While drones built for war are constrained by additional factors, the Bells' achievement expands the possibilities of how these devices might one day perform on the battlefield. Ukrainian war manufacturers face unique challenges that civilian hobbyists do not encounter.

Ukrainian drones need to carry an additional payload—often 200 grams to 1 kg of explosives. They must also be maneuverable enough to pivot and catch a flying enemy target, and be mass-produced. Earlier this month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country was already producing 1,000 interceptor drones a day.

While drones built for war are constrained by additional factors, the Bells' achievement expands the possibilities of how these devices might one day perform on the battlefield.

A major issue with faster drones is that their components tend to overheat when pushed to the limit—whether it's the propeller motors, wiring, or batteries. In their YouTube videos, the Bells repeatedly recorded their drone or its individual parts catching fire during tests.

Drone makers also have to juggle other design factors, such as the drone's aerodynamics and propeller efficiency. The Bells' flight record involved a single drone that flew largely in a straight line, which differs from the maneuverability requirements of military interceptors.

The achievement lays bare how accessible new war-relevant technology is becoming for civilians. As the Ukraine-Russia drone arms race rages, hobbyists far from the war are pushing the limit for how quickly these small quadcopters can fly.

• Component overheating at high speeds
• Propeller motor limitations
• Wiring and battery constraints
• Aerodynamic efficiency requirements

The South African duo's record demonstrates the accelerating pace of drone technology development, with civilian hobbyists achieving speeds that were unimaginable just a few years ago. Their success with off-the-shelf parts and accessible manufacturing methods shows how rapidly this technology is democratizing.

For Ukrainian forces, these civilian advancements provide valuable insights into what might be possible as they continue to refine their own interceptor drone programs. The gap between civilian records and military requirements continues to narrow, suggesting future battlefield applications may benefit from these rapid technological advances.

The arms race between drone speeds and counter-drone technology shows no signs of slowing down, with both civilian innovators and military developers pushing the boundaries of what these small, agile aircraft can achieve.