New York National Guard Tests Army’s Latest Drone Tech at Fort Drum

According to a recent report from the US Army, soldiers from the New York National Guard’s 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team got hands-on experience with cutting-edge drone technology during a training event at Fort Drum from June 24-28, 2024.

Soldier Borne Sensor: A Pocket-Sized Recon Drone

The star of the show was the Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS), a miniature unmanned aerial vehicle designed to enhance battlefield awareness while keeping troops out of harm’s way.

Staff Sgt. Andy Huang, a combat engineer with the 152nd Brigade Engineer Battalion, described the SBS as “portable and lightweight, increasing the effectiveness of our operations.” He added, “It’s designed to, instead of using us to do surveillance, it can do surveillance and reconnaissance and search for enemy fighting positions or friendly forces.”

Measuring just a few inches across, the SBS drone is nearly silent in operation, making it ideal for covert reconnaissance. “It’s small and lightweight, and with how high it can go, you can’t really hear it,” Huang noted. “So, you can recon a lot of stuff, and the bad guys can’t see it.”

Hands-On Training for Future Instructors

The training at Fort Drum served as a “train-the-trainers” course, with participants expected to share their newfound expertise with fellow soldiers back in their units. Huang explained, “We’re going to train almost everyone [in my unit] on how to use this system. So, it’s not just me who knows how to use it, everyone to the lowest ‘Joes’ would know.”

Additional Tech: Precision Targeting with LLDR

While the SBS took center stage, soldiers also received training on the Lightweight Laser Designator Rangefinder (LLDR). This advanced system allows for highly accurate target location and precision fire support.

Spc. Jeffrey Anicet, a joint fire support specialist, highlighted the LLDR’s benefits: “For us, for the observers, it makes it easier to target rounds, especially with mortars. Then, when working with aircraft on guided ordinance, we’re able to precision drop along those coordinates exactly where we want them to the tenth of a meter.”

DroneXL’s Take

The introduction of the Soldier Borne Sensor to National Guard units represents a significant step forward in democratizing drone technology across the US military. These pocket-sized drones have the potential to dramatically increase situational awareness for small units, potentially saving lives by reducing the need for dangerous physical reconnaissance missions.

As we’ve seen in recent conflicts, even consumer-grade drones can have a major impact on the battlefield. Purpose-built military micro-drones like the SBS take this capability to the next level, offering stealth, ease of use, and seamless integration with existing military systems.

The emphasis on “train-the-trainer” programs also suggests that the Army is serious about widespread adoption of this technology. By creating a cadre of expert users within National Guard units, they’re laying the groundwork for these drones to become as commonplace as night vision goggles or GPS devices.

As drone technology continues to evolve rapidly, we can expect to see even more capable and specialized unmanned systems making their way into the hands of soldiers at all levels. The future of warfare is increasingly unmanned, and training events like this one at Fort Drum are helping to shape that future.