US Army trains drone army in Germany for combat operations
In the Bavarian countryside, roughly 400 miles from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the U.S. Army is rapidly forging a new kind of fighting force: an army of drone operators. This intensive training, showcased within a U.S. Army combat training exercise in Germany, is a direct response to the transformative lessons emerging from modern battlefields, particularly the widespread and decisive use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
At the heart of this evolution lies the U.S. Army’s 2nd Cavalry Regiment (2CR), with soldiers honing their skills at the Drone Innovation Cell in Vilseck before deploying to the field for “situational training exercises” (STX Lanes). The focus is on First Person View (FPV) drones, which are proving to be game-changers for both surveillance and offensive operations. These highly agile, often low-cost systems are designed for swift deployment and, critically, for one-way munition strikes, embodying the concept of “Purpose Built Attritable Systems” (PBAS). A single PBAS kit, including FPV goggles, a controller, and multiple drones, costs around $35,000, while individual FPV drone setups can be as inexpensive as $400-$500, built in mere hours.
The urgency of this training is underscored by the brutal realities of the Russia-Ukraine war, where drones have redefined combat. Both sides have leveraged UAS extensively for everything from reconnaissance and target acquisition to precision strikes, electronic warfare, and even logistical support. The conflict has highlighted the effectiveness of mass-produced, expendable drones, often integrated directly into artillery targeting, a strategy Russia has employed with devastating effect. U.S. military leaders openly acknowledge that, in some aspects of drone technology, adversaries like Russia have gained an advantage, making rapid adaptation critical.
This shift is part of a broader “Transformation in Contact” (TiC) initiative within the U.S. Army, backed by a substantial $36 billion investment over the next five years specifically for drone technology. The Pentagon’s “Replicator” initiative further aims to deliver thousands of “all-domain attritable autonomous systems” to warfighters, prioritizing scale and cost-effectiveness. Exercises like “Project Flytrap,” involving U.S., British, Australian, and Polish forces, are crucial proving grounds for developing and integrating counter-UAS technologies and refining tactics.
Interestingly, the training has revealed a generational advantage: younger soldiers, often with backgrounds in STEM or even recreational drone piloting, are demonstrating a remarkable aptitude for mastering these new systems, sometimes within hours. This has led the Army to seek out “hidden talents” within its ranks and to foster unit-level innovation, where soldiers are not just operating but also building and modifying drones in the field. The ultimate goal is to seamlessly integrate these drone capabilities into fast-moving combat units, providing continuous reconnaissance and immediate strike options without relying on traditional, slower air support. However, the exercises have also highlighted a need for more data management training among senior officers, as the modern battlefield generates vast amounts of information from drone operations.
The transformation underway in Germany represents a pivotal moment for the U.S. military, signaling a profound shift in how future conflicts will be fought. By embracing low-cost, attritable drone systems and rapidly integrating them into their tactical doctrine, the U.S. Army is striving to ensure its forces are equipped and trained to face the evolving threats of 21st-century warfare.