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Dragon’s Lair Pitch Goes from Idea to Production

Tuesday, March 10th, 2026

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — A modular drone case conceived by two 82nd Airborne paratroopers is heading into production eight months after being a runner-up at the XVIII Airborne Corps’ Dragon’s Lair competition on June 25, 2025.

This rapid turnaround from idea to production demonstrates the success of Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll’s Transformation Initiative, which simultaneously increase warfighter lethality and accelerates the Army’s acquisition process.

Spc. Alexander Soto, a paratrooper assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, noted the reoccurring problem of drones being broken during airborne drops and rigorous field exercises.

“We needed to be able to carry drones in our rucksacks for airborne operations,” said Soto. “The idea of a smaller rigid case that allowed us to pack it also made it possible to get them in the air as soon as we hit the drop zone.”

His solution was born out of necessity and pitched at Dragon’s Lair 11, an annual competition modeled after the TV show Shark Tank. Soldiers from across the corps presented their battlefield solutions to real-world challenges to a panel of judges for potential adoption.

Following the competition, Soto collaborated with Staff Sgt. Larry Dockins from the Airborne Innovation Lab. Together they developed a functional prototype in just three months. The result was a lightweight, rigid, and jumpable modular drone case compatible with multiple small unmanned aerial systems.

The accelerated path from concept to contract was made possible by another of the Corps’ innovation initiatives: the Lt. Gen. James M. Gavin Joint Innovation Outpost. The drone case project served as a successful pilot for the outpost’s new rapid-procurement model — testing the team’s ability to align the necessary resources for production.

The JIOP officially opened its doors in January 2026. Its primary mission is to bridge the gap between military needs and industry partners, fast-tracking the procurement process.

“By implementing the systems that the Lt. Gen. James M. Gavin Joint Innovation Outpost enables, we are able to bring these Soldiers’ ideas forward and implement them rapidly,” explained Col. Thomas R. Monaghan Jr., the JIOP’s director. “It also demonstrates the shift in prioritizing innovations that Soldiers want and view as viable solutions to problems.”

The significance of such Soldier-led innovation was not lost on leadership.

“Any solution that makes a warfighter more lethal is a winning solution for us,” Dockins said. “Ultimately, ounces make pounds, seconds make minutes. Creating a device that cuts weight could mean winning or losing on the battlefield.”

By SGT Prim Hibbard

Posted in Army, Drone, Guest Post | 2 Comments »

Green Berets Hone Drone Proficiency with Advanced Training

Tuesday, March 10th, 2026

FORT CARSON, Colo. — High winds tear across the tactical range — tumbleweeds pass and debris swirls but a tactical drone maneuvers steadily through the sky, locked on course and unmoved by the elements. This moment reflects the culmination of three demanding weeks of training.

Green Berets from the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) completed an intensive training program from Feb. 9 to 27, conducting exercises both in the classroom and across multiple tactical ranges on Fort Carson. The Advanced Drone Course taken by the Soldiers is designed to expand operational capabilities and enhance small unmanned aerial system employment across the modern battlefield.

The course, led by instructors from 4th Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), brought together Green Berets, alongside a Soldier from the 4th Infantry Division. Throughout the training, students developed hands-on proficiency in soldering, assembling, programming and piloting small UAS platforms.

The course emphasized technical mastery and tactical integration, reinforcing that drones are not a substitute for core Soldier skills but an additional asset that increases precision, adaptability, and lethality during reconnaissance and combat operations.

“This is simply another tool in a Soldier’s kit but its impact depends on how well we understand and employ it,” said Sgt. 1st Class Jovani Vasquez of the 4th Combat Aviation Brigade. “Our adversaries recognize that too. This technology is increasing worldwide, and enemy forces and terrorist organizations are actively using it. We must remain just as adaptive and informed to maintain the advantage.”

As the rhythm of warfare continues to evolve, UAS platforms have become increasingly central to operations. Over the past two decades, the battlefield has expanded beyond traditional ground maneuvering, requiring Soldiers to adapt to threats and opportunities in the air domain. The Advanced Drone Course reflects the Army’s commitment to ensuring units remain agile and prepared to meet emerging challenges.

Upon completion of the course, graduates are capable of independently maintaining and repairing their systems in austere environments. Soldiers are trained to troubleshoot malfunctions, replace components, and conduct basic modifications to sustain mission effectiveness.

“If the motor goes out, they now have the ability to re-solder a new motor, fix it, and continue the mission,” said a UAS instructor from 4th Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne). “If your M4 jams, you don’t stop — you find a solution. The same mindset applies to drones. Soldiers need to perform basic repairs and keep the mission moving.”

By investing in advanced drone training, the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) reinforces its ability to adapt to the evolving character of warfare. The course equips Soldiers with the technical skills and problem-solving mindset needed to build, repair, and employ small unmanned aerial systems in any environment. As technology reshapes the battlefield, initiatives like this ensure Green Berets remain agile, self-sufficient, and ready to maintain the advantage.

By SGT Zachary Myers

Posted in Army, Drone, Guest Post, SOF | No Comments »

Special Forces Sharpen Skills, Integrate Technology in Arctic Training

Friday, March 6th, 2026

FORT WAINWRIGHT, Ak. – Across the freezing subarctic region, Green Berets immersed themselves in some of the most physically and mentally taxing cold weather training for the Joint Pacific Multinational Training Center (JPMRC) 26-02 rotation across multiple training areas in central and southern Alaska.

Green Berets and enablers assigned to 3rd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) pushed their bodies to the limit and used their unique set of skills to enhance the effectiveness of 11th Airborne Division in a simulated large-scale combat operation from Feb. 11-20, 2026.

Several small teams of operators leveraged reconnaissance and disruption of adversary technology to ultimately give the Joint Force Commander a decisive advantage in fires and maneuver across the battlespace.

“We’ve got our place [in large-scale combat operations] and it is using tactical actions with our specialized signals intelligence and electronic warfare analysts to achieve strategic results,” said Maj. Scott Ratzer, the 3rd Battalion Alpha company commander. “This gives us a chance to identify important [enemy] targets on the Division’s high-priority target list and disrupt [enemy] command and control, sustainment and logistics.”

Prior to entering the JPMRC training area, multiple Special Forces Operational Detachment–Alphas (SFOD-A) and support personnel conducted 14 days of focused cold weather training in Alaska to refine fundamental survival skills required to operate in Arctic conditions.

The teams rehearsed small-unit movement over snow-covered and restrictive terrain, cold weather sustainment to include meal preparation, communications in extreme temperatures, and long-duration dismounted operations. The training reinforced the technical discipline required to maintain combat power when equipment, batteries, and even basic tasks become more complex in sub-zero environments.

“Having two weeks of solid cold-weather training prior to going into the box helped us and other teams really prepare for the subfreezing temperatures that we were going to face in the box,” said a Special Forces Team Sergeant, the senior NCO on an ODA. “When guys are exposed to this environment [like Alaska], they stop doing the simple things – changing socks, drinking water, and eating. These mistakes can begin to snowball if not taken seriously.”

Building on that foundation, the ODAs integrated emerging technologies to extend their reach well beyond line-of-sight contact. The 3rd Battalion’s premiere military free fall (MFF) team practiced a high-altitude high opening jump to field test cold-weather equipment, communications gear, and layered clothing configurations in a true Arctic environment prior to entering the training area.

By executing the infiltration under realistic conditions, the ODA identified equipment limitations, refined load plans, and confirmed that critical systems would function upon landing.

“If we can prove we’re able to execute an MFF jump in Arctic conditions, that’s just one more option the commander has in his back pocket,” said a Special Forces Detachment Commander. “Weather and terrain up here can limit how you move forces, so testing our gear and our procedures in this environment gives higher headquarters the flexibility to insert a team where and when it makes sense.”

This training underscores the Army’s focus on building agile, lethal formations capable of projecting combat power in any climate and against any adversary. Adaptability is a key component in building lethality and first-person view (FPV) drones assist 10th SFG(A) signals intelligence Soldiers in collecting critical information to hand off to 11th Airborne Division for rocket and missile support.

“FPV drones give us a fast, low-signature way to confirm what we’re seeing on the ground and tighten up our target picture,” said a signals intelligence Soldier. “Instead of relying solely on reports or larger platforms, we can push a drone forward, get eyes on the objective in real time, and provide accurate information to the commander. That speed and precision makes a big difference when it comes to reconnaissance and confirming prior intel.”

As the rotation wrapped up, Green Berets from 3rd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) returned from Alaska having honed their cold-weather skills and tested their equipment in extreme conditions. From survival basics to using FPV drones for real-time reconnaissance, they showed the Army’s focus on adaptability, precision, and readiness. The training ensures commanders have the tools and information needed to gain an edge on any battlefield.

The Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center (JPMRC) is the U.S. Army’s premier Combat Training Center (CTC) in the Indo-Pacific region. Established as a “home-station” and exportable capability, it allows units to train in their own regional environments—such as jungles, archipelagos, and extreme cold—rather than traveling to conventional training centers in the continental United States.

Story by SGT David Cordova, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne)

Posted in Arctic, Army, CEMA, Drone, Guest Post | No Comments »

AV Receives $186 Million US Army Delivery Order for Next-Generation Switchblade Systems

Monday, March 2nd, 2026

ARLINGTON, Va. — February 26, 2026 — AeroVironment, Inc. (“AV”) (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global leader in autonomous systems and precision strike solutions, today announced receipt of a $186 million delivery order from the U.S. Army for Switchblade® 600 Block 2 and Switchblade® 300 Block 20 explosively formed penetrator (EFP) loitering munition systems.

The order was issued under the Army’s existing five-year, $990 million Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for Lethal Unmanned Systems (LUS), which was awarded in August 2024. This delivery order marks the U.S. Army’s first procurement of AV’s next-generation Switchblade product line, underlining a significant step forward in fielding advanced, precision loitering munitions across infantry and maneuver formations. It is the Army’s first Switchblade order containing EFP payload, delivering enhanced lethality against armored threats.

“This delivery order reflects the Army’s confidence in the next evolution of the Switchblade family and its relevance to modern, contested battlefields,” said Brian Young, Senior Vice President of Loitering Munitions at AV. “Switchblade 600 Block 2 and Switchblade 300 Block 20 build on years of combat experience while delivering meaningful upgrades in autonomy, resilience, and lethality tailored to today’s operational demands.”

Switchblade 600 Block 2 is AV’s most advanced long-range loitering munition to date, designed for multi-domain operations and ruggedized for maritime and highly contested environments. Developed in collaboration with United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM), the system features upgraded avionics and advanced Automatic Target Recognition (ATR), enabling faster detection, identification, and engagement of threats. Integrated resilient communications, including Silvus MANET radios, support distributed operations and extended handoff ranges, while improved navigation and mission resilience allow effective employment in GPS-challenged environments. These upgrades provide commanders with increased reach, flexibility, and confidence against armored and high-value targets.

Switchblade 300 Block 20 introduces a new modular payload capability to the combat-proven, backpackable loitering munition. For the first time, the Army has procured the system with an Explosively Formed Penetrator (EFP) payload, delivering enhanced lethality against armored threats while retaining the speed, portability, and ease of use that have made Switchblade 300 a trusted solution at the small-unit level. The Block 20 configuration also includes sensor improvements, enhanced user interfaces, and extended range options, allowing rapid, precision effects beyond line of sight.

Together, the Switchblade 600 Block 2 and Switchblade 300 Block 20 provide the Army with a scalable family of precision loitering munitions—from lightweight, single-operator systems to long-endurance, multi-domain capabilities—designed to operate seamlessly across echelons and mission sets.

“This delivery order further advances the Army’s Lethal Unmanned Systems Directed Requirement and reinforces AV’s role as the leading provider of combat-proven loitering munition systems,” said Young. “As we continue to invest in expanding Switchblade manufacturing capacity and accelerating delivery timelines, we are continuing to meet the growing demand for these products from U.S. and allied forces.”

Posted in Army, Contracts, Drone, Press Release | No Comments »

National Guardsmen Train to Use Small Drones

Sunday, March 1st, 2026

FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – National Guard Soldiers from various backgrounds, skillsets and military occupational specialties attending a 10-day small unmanned aircraft system operator course, or sUAS, are learning how to operate small drones.

The course, which began Feb. 19 and ends Feb. 28, is being conducted by the 166th Regiment – Regional Training Institute.

“It’s been a great course,” said Sgt. Stephen Scharf, a student from 1st Battalion, 111th Infantry Regiment. “It’s a very evolving world, so there are a lot of new ideas coming out. A lot of things are changing very rapidly.

The course is structured to encourage students to adopt a tactical mindset and understand how the things they learn can be integrated into a large-scale combat operation, said Sgt. 1st Class Brandon Wahl, the sUAS operator course manager.

“One of my main goals here is to make it as realistic as we can,” he said. “So, it’s important for everyone to know how to operate one, because at any point you could be tasked with operating it.”

Several members of the 111th Engineer Brigade, West Virginia National Guard, attended the course because their unit is deploying soon. They’ll be using these drones on their deployment, Spc. Simon Bertram said.

“For infantry, it’s very necessary for reconnaissance,” Bertram said. “Getting more drone operators will be very beneficial.”

Other attendees of the course came to learn a new skill. Scharf said the course has been very informative.

“It’s an evolving world, and a lot of things are changing very rapidly,” he said. “The instructors are doing their best to stay on top of it and disseminating that info.”

Scharf mentioned that this course and the information it provides have been beneficial not just for himself but for the Army as a whole.

“It’s something that as we develop this, more doctrine gets established,” he said. “It’s going to be something that you’re going to see more widespread throughout both the Guard and the Army.”

The course is open to National Guard members of all military occupational specialties.

“There are infantrymen here, some of them are engineers,” Wahl said. “One of the students is an intel guy. There’s all kinds of jobs that come through.”

“All of these different jobs in the Army will be affected by sUAS’s,” Scharf said. “Sometimes that might be that you have to figure out how, which is a great thing.”

By SGT Kayden Bedwell

Posted in Army, Drone, Guest Post | 1 Comment »

Textron Systems’ Damocles Loitering Munition Selected For US Army Low Altitude Stalking & Strike Ordnance (LASSO) Contract

Friday, February 27th, 2026

Wilmington, Mass., Feb. 25, 2026 – Textron Systems Corporation, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today it was awarded a prototype agreement from the U.S. Army for the Low Altitude Stalking & Strike Ordnance (LASSO) program. Under the prototype agreement, Textron Systems will deliver a DamoclesTM loitering munition system and demonstrate it to the U.S. Army.

The DamoclesTM loitering munition, equipped with Textron Systems’ advanced GEN2 Explosively Formed Penetrator (EFP), is a cutting-edge system designed to deliver decisive lethality in peer warfare environments. For the LASSO program, the Damocles system is integrated with a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) to deliver top-attack capability. In the VTOL configuration, no launch or recovery equipment is required.

The Damocles system is built with a modular open systems approach (MOSA), allowing other payloads to be integrated into the system to support various concepts of operation (CONOPS), such as electronic warfare effects. For operational safety, the system includes features to prevent unexploded ordnance (UXO), reducing the risk of hazardous remnants on the battlefield.

“Loitering munitions technology will be key in protecting the warfighter on the battlefield – they allow warfighters to send systems like Damocles beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) to engage a target from a safer standoff distance,” said Henry Finneral, Senior Vice President, Weapon Systems. “Textron Systems is proud to support this mission and leverage our industry-leading EFP technology to provide next-generation capability at speed and at scale.”

Posted in Army, Contracts, Drone, Press Release | No Comments »

Army Announces Winners of the Inaugural Best Drone Warfighter Competition

Monday, February 23rd, 2026

FORT RUCKER, Ala. – The U.S. Army today announced the winners of the inaugural Best Drone Warfighter Competition, a three?day event held on February 17-19 that brought together elite drone operators from across the active duty, reserve, and National Guard components.

The competition was hosted by the Army Aviation Center of Excellence and the Maneuver Center of Excellence, in Huntsville, Alabama, sponsored by the Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA) in partnership with the University of Alabama Huntsville. The event drew over 200 competitors and more than 800 attendees, showcasing the Army’s most skilled small?UAS operators. Participants competed in three distinct challenges designed to test speed, precision, teamwork, and creativity in small UAS employment: a high speed drone race, a tactical squad lane, and an innovation showcase, highlighting the Army’s commitment to integrating advanced unmanned aerial systems at every echelon of the force.

Winners of the 2026 Best Drone Warfighter Competition are:

• Best Drone Operator: Sgt. Javon Purcher, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas

• Best Tactical Squad: Staff Sgt. Angel Caliz and Spc. Jonah Burks, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany

• Best Innovation: 1st Lt. Ryan Giallonardo, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Reed, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Nathan Shea and Sgt. 1st Class Brent Wehr, 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania Army National Guard

Competitors raced Neros Archer FPV drones through a complex, obstacle course; executed cross?country hunter-killer missions in paired teams to identify and neutralize targets; and showcased Soldier designed technologies in front of a panel of experts aimed at improving survivability, lethality, and battlefield adaptability.

Beyond identifying top performers, the competition demonstrated how rapidly the Army’s unmanned capabilities are advancing. The event reinforced the service’s focus on developing operators who can excel in contested environments and contribute to combat formations that are more lethal, agile, and technologically integrated.

The Best Drone Warfighter Competition aligns with the Army’s broader modernization priorities, underscoring the role of advanced unmanned systems in strengthening readiness and preparing Soldiers for the demands of future conflicts.

For additional imagery and media, go to www.dvidshub.net/feature/USArmyBDWC

By LTC Vonnie Wright

Posted in Army, Drone, Guest Post | No Comments »

Fort Benning Integrates Virtual Drone Training into OSUT Program of Instruction

Thursday, February 19th, 2026

FORT BENNING, Ga. — As small unmanned aircraft systems, sUAS, become a defining feature of the modern battlefield, the Maneuver Center of Excellence is ensuring every new Soldier has a high-tech edge.

One-Station Unit Training trainees are now undergoing a 10-hour sUAS familiarization course integrated into their formal program of instruction. Using Virtual Battle Space 4 software and the Virtual Drone Collective Trainer plug-in, Infantry and Armor trainees master flight mechanics before stepping onto a live flight line.

The 12-lane curriculum, modeled after the 75th Ranger Regiment’s Ranger Robotics Lethality Course, is designed to take a Soldier from basic “buttonology” — learning the controller interface — to advanced tactical reconnaissance and lethal kinetic strikes.

“The Army has always used simulation-based training to reduce noise, training costs, and wear and tear on equipment and resources,” said Jayson D. Karch, a training specialist with the Maneuver Center of Excellence Directorate of Training and Doctrine. “This enables Soldiers from across the Army to receive immersive, life-like, low-cost training on equipment they have minimal experience operating, without risk of damage to equipment, personnel, or resources.”

The move toward simulation-based training addresses the logistical challenge of training thousands of Soldiers annually. By using the Virtual Drone Collective Trainer software plug-in, developed by the Combined Arms Center-Training Innovation Facility at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, the Army can provide immersive training at scale.

“While live flight is an important and vital portion of certifying an sUAS operator, new operators use simulations to build basic skills without all the resources required for live flight,” said Rory O’Brien, an MCoE simulation specialist. “Given the number of Soldiers trained in Infantry and Armor OSUT, there aren’t enough resources to allow every Soldier to fly a live sUAS, so virtual simulations allow us to train the skills at scale using less resources.”

The training is divided into three distinct phases: flight training, basic tactical training and a culminating assessment. During the tactical phase, trainees use night vision, thermal, and infrared cameras to identify enemy personnel and vehicles before conducting simulated drone strikes.

The Army’s goal is not to turn every Soldier into a certified pilot, but to ensure every Soldier is familiar with a combat enabler they will encounter in future formations. The simulation also serves as a talent-scouting tool; trainees who demonstrate above-average proficiency are considered for the formal sUAS Operators Course following graduation.

The MCoE plans to publish these training lanes on the milGaming website, allowing units across the force to download and utilize the same scenarios for home-station training.

The integration of sUAS training into OSUT represents a fundamental shift in how the Army prepares for the modern, transparent battlefield. By prioritizing digital literacy and technological proficiency from day one, the MCoE is ensuring that the next generation of Infantry and Armor Soldiers is not just keeping pace with change but driving it. As these Soldiers transition to the operational force, they provide a ready, lethal, and tech-capable backbone for the multidomain formations of tomorrow.

View more photos of the virtual sUAS training.

By CPT Stephanie Snyder

Posted in Army, Drone, Guest Post, Training | No Comments »