US Army paratroopers are not merely experimenting with off-the-shelf drone technology — they are actively dismantling commercial systems, reverse-engineering their components, designing and 3D-printing replacement parts, and then rigorously testing their improvised creations in demanding live-fire drills. What might appear chaotic and ad hoc at first glance is in fact a fast-paced, immersive crash course in the emerging and still relatively uncharted domain of drone warfare. These exercises provide valuable real-world lessons, demonstrating both the extraordinary potential and the inevitable unpredictability that accompanies attempts to adapt cutting-edge technology for military purposes in real time.
This sudden surge of experimental work is connected to a broader Army-wide modernization initiative, one that seeks to integrate unmanned aerial systems deeply into the full spectrum of combat operations. For the moment, much of the progress still looks experimental—soldiers rapidly test new tactics, adjust designs on short notice, share observations with peers, and continuously integrate lessons learned from each trial. Such improvisation is not a sign of disorder, but rather an indication of the Army’s commitment to cultivating creativity and agility within its ranks—qualities that are increasingly essential as warfare becomes more technologically complex.
An emblematic case study of this process can be found in the Bayonet Innovation Team of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, which falls under the Army’s Southern European Task Force, Africa. Over the past nine months, this team has acted as a testbed for the service’s drone-focused modernization drive. During a series of multinational training exercises held in Lithuania, Tunisia, and Germany, the soldiers tested drones in multiple roles. They experimented with first-person-view (FPV) drones to strike both stationary and mobile targets, utilized 3D printing to create novel airframe components and replacement parts, and applied artificial intelligence-enhanced software to refine and adjust tactics after each flight. The trials were not confined to theory but were carried out in real-world environments that revealed practical shortcomings alongside previously unimagined tactical opportunities.
All of these investments in experimentation recently culminated in a historic milestone: earlier this month, during a summit at Fort Rucker, Alabama, the 173rd achieved the Army’s first ever successful drone-on-drone kill. That event symbolized not only a technical breakthrough but also a proof of concept: the rapid cycle of testing, adaptation, and dissemination of findings at every stage had produced measurable battlefield value. The significance of the kill was amplified by the fact that the insights, data, and technical tweaks gleaned throughout the journey are being distributed broadly across units and command levels, ensuring that the achievement benefits the entire Army rather than a single brigade.
This emphasis on drones fits neatly into the Army’s overarching modernization and transformation strategy, which prioritizes acquisition and development of weapons deemed indispensable for future high-intensity conflicts. According to 1st Lt. Francesco La Torre, the officer who oversaw the Army’s first FPV drone air-to-air engagement, there now exists within the Army a distinctly open atmosphere surrounding experimentation with small drones and unmanned systems of all kinds. La Torre emphasized that the pipeline of feedback generated during these exercises is extraordinarily valuable, since it flows quickly and openly across different program offices, doctrinal schools, neighboring units, and command echelons. In practical terms, this openness means that if one unit discovers that a particular drone design malfunctions under certain conditions, others adapt their expectations almost immediately, and if one team discovers a breakthrough tactic, nearby commands adopt it without delay.
He further noted that never before has the Army been so seamless in cross-pollinating discoveries between stakeholders ranging from research organizations to frontline units. Information related to force lethality, operational readiness, and systems refinements is now deliberately circulated across organizational boundaries, which has accelerated improvements to existing programs while also shaping the design of completely new ones. Over the past year, the integration of unmanned aerial systems and associated artificial intelligence platforms has been strikingly rapid and extensive, fundamentally reshaping training exercises. These exercises, once relatively predictable rehearsals, are now incorporating higher levels of realism to prepare soldiers for the conditions they may face on battlefields of the near future.
Among the most important enablers of this shift are sophisticated AI-powered tools. Programs such as Palantir’s Gotham, the Maven Smart System—the Department of Defense’s primary AI platform—and the Foundry system have made analysis and data integration more accessible and streamlined. In practical use, these systems provide concrete advantages: for instance, a long-range reconnaissance drone outfitted with AI image-recognition capabilities enabled the 173rd to accelerate decision-making by automatically identifying potential targets. In another example, FPV drones were paired with terminal guidance systems, providing additional precision in the final seconds of an attack run and ensuring that the drones struck exactly where intended.
For the 173rd Airborne Brigade, however, incorporating drones also demands meeting stricter requirements specific to their role as paratroopers. Their missions are frequently expeditionary in nature: soldiers may find themselves operating behind enemy lines, cut off from supply lines, and forced to survive in hostile territory for many days. Under such conditions, drones cannot simply be high-performing—they must also be portable enough to jump with paratroopers out of aircraft and durable enough to continue operating under grueling, resource-limited conditions. La Torre highlighted that these unique operational demands drive him to prioritize drones that can survive rough handling, remain effective without immediate logistical support, and maintain combat relevance for extended stretches.
In practical terms, this often translates into preferring lower-cost drones that can carry ammunition or varied payloads and perform multiple tasks depending on the circumstances. When drones prove both portable and durable enough to meet the needs of airborne infantrymen, they are likely robust enough for wider use across other Army units as well—a test of survivability and adaptability that benefits the broader force.
Just as important as the hardware are the human processes that sustain innovation. The rapid communication and constant exchange of feedback between soldiers, engineers, and commanders has become indispensable in adapting technologies to the fast-moving realities of drone warfare. Soldiers stationed across different regions of the world are now troubleshooting site-specific issues: in the Indo-Pacific, some experiment in humid, rain-soaked environments where drones may lose battery efficiency or fail to launch effectively, while others in Europe refine load-bearing methods to determine whether drones can realistically be carried on extended marches in their rucksacks. Seemingly small logistic decisions—such as carrying sufficient spare parts—have revealed themselves to be decisive factors in whether a mission succeeds or fails. Connectivity problems, transmission limits, and range restrictions continue to emerge under these varied field conditions, and soldiers consistently provide feedback about which problems need urgent solutions or what additional features could expand tactical flexibility.
According to La Torre, the crucial dialogue between front-line tactical units and the engineers or technicians refining these systems enables soldiers to solve problems quickly. Whether requesting a new functionality, articulating a technical deficit, or explaining an urgent battlefield requirement, this direct connection ensures that innovation does not remain stagnant at the lab but translates directly into operational adaptability. The value of this relationship was vividly demonstrated at the recent summit, where the 173rd team not only executed successful missions but also repeatedly paused to troubleshoot unexpected difficulties. They redesigned equipment under time pressure, tested the revised prototypes, and returned them almost immediately to the range for renewed trials. The entire process illustrated a dynamic cycle of innovation: field feedback shaped technical redesigns in near real time, thereby embedding experimentation into the very rhythm of combat preparation.
Viewed as a whole, the Army’s full-throated embrace of drone warfare underscores its conviction that unmanned aerial systems—along with counter-drone technologies—will be indispensable in any potential future conflict. By pressing these tools directly into the hands of its soldiers, the Army is ensuring that innovation does not remain theoretical but is tested, broken, reworked, and made operational in conditions that echo real war. The soldiers themselves are pioneering the “messy” work of adaptation, ensuring that this emerging technology evolves quickly enough to remain relevant as the character of warfare accelerates into an increasingly technological age.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/paratroopers-tackling-drone-warfare-us-army-goes-all-in-tech-2025-8
