Abstract: A system and method are provided for safe arming a flying machine that carries an explosive device. Once armed, the flying machine can provide air defense against a target (e.g., an unwanted aircraft) by using the explosive device to kinetically intercept the unwanted aircraft. The flying machine can include an explosive device, an arming device, and one or more sensors (e.g., a 9-axis inertial measurement unit). By processing the sensor data, the flying machine determines whether arming criteria have been satisfied (e.g., the flying machine has attained a desired altitude or undergone a specified pattern of accelerations), and when the arming criteria are satisfied the flying machine arms the explosive device by completing a detonation path. If the explosive device is not detonated, the system returns to a safe state before the flying machine back to its origin.