Naval Aircraft Factory
TDN Assault Drone

& Interstate
TD3R Assault Drone

by Tom Conte

The Naval Aircraft Factory’s TDN assault drone was the first purpose built aircraft of its type.

Plans for these weapons were considered before America’s entry into WW II, therefore it did not take long to design and build the TDNs when the decision was made for their use. First deliveries of about a hundred of these aircraft started in early 1943.

A TDN was able to carry a variety of explosives up to a ton, which included bombs or torpedoes and was controlled by a “mother” aircraft. It was able to release the weapons or be flown directly into the target.

TDNs were not used in combat but were mostly used in training. A TDN was the first aircraft to be remotely flown off of an aircraft carrier during exercises conducted on Lake Michigan in the summer of 1943. They were flown from the training carrier, U.S.S. Sable and made simulated attacks along the Michigan lakeshore. During remote control operations, the canopy was not removed from a TDN. Due to other commitments in modifying and producing aircraft, the NAF past along the task of building drones to other manufactures. This resulted in another design, the Interstate TDR (see TDR article in for more information of this type) and a TD3R.

The TD3R was a more powerful version of the TDR built by Interstate and the American Aircraft Companies. It used radial engines and made a number of test flights but never entered combat.

Both models are in 1/72 scale, which results in their wingspans being about eight inches. The TDN was carved from a urethane material and is shown carrying two 1000 pounds bombs from True Details.

The TD3R was cast from BARE METAL’s polyurethane resin using the mold that also produced the TDR.

Besides the radial engines, the other difference is the canopy used during manned testing of the aircraft.

Both models were finished in Testor’s Model Master paints.