Drones could guide every bit of an Army division’s firepower, 101st CO says
From mortars to missiles, the airborne unit is rethinking the use of uncrewed systems in the kill chain.
SAM SKOVE | MAY 9, 2024 03:38 PM ET
ARMY DRONES
U.S. Army units could someday align every level of their indirect weapons—from mortars to missiles—with some form of unmanned aerial system, or UAS, the 101st Airborne Division commander said.
“You could see those small UAS tied to the employment of mortars, and you could see those medium UASs tied to artillery, and those larger UAS could be tied to air-launch effects and other higher-order precision munitions,” Maj. Gen. Brett Sylvia said at a media roundtable Thursday.
The 101st is experimenting with different forms of tech as part of Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George’s “transforming-in-contact” initiative, which seeks to rapidly evaluate new technology by fielding it directly to select units.
As part of the tests, the 101st’s second brigade has been designated as the Army’s first Mobile Brigade Combat Team, Sylvia said. The brigade now uses a variety of new technologies, including using the Army’s Android-based ATAK mission planning software at multiple echelons of command. One “landing spot” for testing new technologies is the brigade’s new Multi-Functional Reconnaissance Company, Sylvia said.
https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2024/05/drones-could-guide-every-bit-army-divisions-firepower-101st-co-says/396452/?oref=d1-homepage-top-story
