The XVIII Airborne Corps conducted Exercise Scarlet Dragon at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, from September 11-17 to evaluate integrated defenses against unmanned aircraft, according to the Army. The exercise brought together soldiers, industry partners and military systems to test emerging technologies for detecting, tracking and defeating drone threats as unmanned systems become increasingly common on modern battlefields.
Unmanned aircraft are an increasingly significant threat on modern battlefields around the world. By testing capabilities against realistic threat scenarios, including swarms of up to 100 unmanned aircraft, the XVIII Airborne Corps could evaluate how different systems perform together in the field.
The exercise examined a broad range of counter-UAS (unmanned aircraft systems) technologies, including acoustic sensors, portable radar and autonomous systems designed specifically for the unmanned aircraft fight. Rather than testing technology in isolation, the Army placed emerging capabilities in an austere field environment where soldiers could evaluate performance against realistic threats. Electronic warfare, sensors, radar, autonomous systems and defensive fires each provide different tools for detecting, identifying and defeating unmanned aircraft. According to Army Col. Rob Kenny, the XVIII Airborne Corps chief of fires, an integrated approach is essential: "What we've found is that there's no one sensor to rule them all. It takes an integrated, layered approach."
The exercise also demonstrated how the Army works with industry to develop and integrate new technologies. Leading-edge technology companies worked alongside soldiers to identify operational problems, test potential solutions and gather feedback directly from the field.
The exercise reinforced the broader goal of preparing military forces for future conflicts. Through experimentation and collaboration with industry partners, the XVIII Airborne Corps is working to integrate emerging technologies with existing systems to address the evolving unmanned aircraft threat.