I have a confession. Even in 2026, long after the Phantom Liberty expansion dropped, I still drop whatever I'm doing the moment I hear that air raid siren. It's pavlovian. Red smoke goes up, I grab a gun, and my carefully planned stealth mission turns into a chaotic free-for-all. You would think I'd have learned by now.
Hansen's airdrops are one of those side activities that sound simple on paper. A crate falls from the sky in Dogtown. Kurt Hansen, the district's local warlord with a flair for drama, packed it with goodies. You go get it. Easy, right? Not even close.
What Actually Happens When One Drops
First, you hear the siren. Then you see the smoke. That red plume is basically a dinner bell for every scav, gangoon, and chrome-junkie in the district. I have walked into an airdrop zone to find three separate factions already shooting each other, and none of them were happy to see me.
An airdrop is not a quiet scavenging trip. The crate itself is locked. You have to hack it open, and the hack takes a few seconds. Those few seconds feel like an eternity when someone is throwing grenades at your head. I recommend clearing the area first, or at least making sure nobody is looking your way. Or just do what I do: let everyone else fight, then sneak behind a dumpster and start the breach protocol while pretending to be invisible.
What Is Inside These Flying Piñatas?
Here is where it gets interesting. The loot is mostly random. Every airdrop has one guaranteed item: a progression shard. This little chip gives you a permanent stat boost, like extra inventory space, and it activates as soon as you pick it up. That alone is usually worth the trip, because who doesn't want to carry more junk in Night City?
Beyond the shard, the crate can contain almost anything. I have found legendary weapons, high-end clothing, eddies, first aid items, explosives, cyberware, and sometimes a truly disappointing amount of common junk. It is a lotto machine with guns.
To be honest, the randomness is part of the appeal. One time I fought through a small army of Barghest soldiers and got a pair of pants. Just pants. Not even good pants. Another time I barely survived a three-way gunfight and pulled out an iconic weapon that immediately made the whole mess worth it. That emotional whiplash is the true Phantom Liberty experience.
The Good, The Bad, And The Red Smoke
Let me break it down in a way my tired merc brain can understand:
| Positive | Negative |
|---|---|
| Progression shard every time | Can be complete garbage otherwise |
| Fast, intense combat | You will probably die at least once |
| No long dialogue or mission prep | The hack takes time while enemies shoot you |
| Good source of random gear | RNG can be cruel |
| Perfect parkour and hacking practice | Red smoke attracts every lunatic in Dogtown |
I should also mention that airdrops only happen in Dogtown. You will not see them elsewhere. They are a Phantom Liberty addition, so if you are still cruising around Watson, do not wait for a red pillar of smoke. It will not come.
Should You Actually Go After Them?
My honest answer? Yes. Usually. Most of the time. Okay, almost always.
Look, the contents are not guaranteed to be amazing. You might walk away with nothing but a health kit and a handful of eddies. But the activity itself is a great break from the usual gigs and story missions. It tests your combat, your hacking, and your ability to climb over things in a panic. Sometimes it hands you a legendary weapon that becomes your new favorite tool for the rest of the game. Other times it hands you pants.
Even now, in 2026, I find myself gravitating toward that red smoke whenever I see it. The siren goes off, my pulse goes up, and suddenly I am not doing whatever boring thing I was doing. I am sprinting across Dogtown, dodging bullets, and hacking a crate while hoping this time it isn't pants. It usually is. But the progression shard makes me feel better.
So yes, chase the airdrops. Fight the gangs. Hack the crate. And if you get a pair of common shoes for your trouble, remember: at least the stat boost was permanent.