Allyson Park
Drones are changing the nature of modern warfare, and as small unmanned aerial systems proliferate above battlefields, the Army is focusing on developing and procuring new technology to counter them.
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George announced at the Association of the United States Army’s annual meeting and exposition in October four major areas where the service will “step on the gas” in 2025, and counter-UAS technology was at the top of the list. He called for Army formations to “dramatically improve” their ability to counter adversary unmanned systems.
Maj. Gen. David Stewart, director of the counter-unmanned aircraft systems office and director of fires in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, said in a panel discussion that the drone threat is “not going anywhere anytime soon,” nor is it limited to conflict. Unmanned aerial systems can function both as peacetime threats and conflict-based threats, and that shapes the way the Army views the evolving problem, he said.
“The department is moving toward [counter unmanned systems], so that’s air, sea and land, not just the air part,” Stewart said. “When we wrap our arms around that as a department, we’re really seeing that this uncrewed, unmanned threat is coming from all different areas. … We have to stay ahead of the threat, which is evolving every day.”
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