Aim for Drone Superiority: Allow the Squad to Falter
In the rapidly evolving world of modern warfare, a significant shift is underway in the use of small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) across all combat units. This cultural transformation seeks to embed drone experimentation into training cycles, build local sustainment and fabrication capacity, and treat drone teams as integral parts of tactical formations.
This change is not exclusive to the US Army. Conflicts like the one in Ukraine have seen both Ukraine and Russia employing drones for various tactical purposes. The war in Ukraine demonstrates that drone warfare is not just about platforms, but about ecosystems, and units that can build, fix, hack, and redeploy drones faster than the enemy gain a cumulative advantage.
The Army is recognizing the importance of sUAS but struggles to adapt quickly due to traditional acquisition processes. To accelerate this adaptation, the Army should reallocate funds directly to tactical units for procurement, testing, and modification of sUAS in operational settings. Leaders should also redirect a fraction of existing sUAS research, development, and procurement funds to unit-level experimentation for a higher return on investment.
The defense acquisition system is ill-suited for the sUAS revolution due to its focus on compliance, long timelines, and top-down control. A more agile, bottom-up approach is needed, such as the lean startup model, which emphasizes rapid prototyping and adaptation. This model is applicable to sUAS due to their rapid technological changes and commercial drivers.
Soldiers are already modifying drones on the fly using commercial parts, 3D printers, and open-source code, experimenting with new tactics weekly. Commanders should establish safety protocols, no-fly zones, and unit-level airspace management tools for drone operations.
Innovation will not come from a program office but from the mud, the barracks, the garage, and the field. The only way to stay ahead in a world of massed, networked, and expendable sUAS is to innovate faster than your adversary. The US Army should start empowering its youngest, most adaptable warfighters to build, experiment with, and break equipment like sUAS, reimagining the battlefield from the ground up.
The views expressed by Major Charlie Phelps, a Special Forces officer, do not reflect the official position of the United States Military Academy, Department of the Army, or Department of Defense. However, his suggestion that to prepare for the next war, the US Army should stop waiting for perfect answers from the top and start empowering its soldiers to innovate, resonates strongly in the current sUAS landscape.
In response to this call for innovation, companies like the German defense startup Quantum Systems have built factories for inexpensive drones and delivered them to the Ukrainian army within the last twelve months. As the sUAS revolution continues to unfold, it is clear that drones are becoming essential battlefield tools in large-scale combat operations. The US Army must adapt quickly to remain competitive and ensure its soldiers have the tools they need to succeed on the battlefield.
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