The Florida National Guard conducted Exercise Drone Crucible 26.3 from Sept. 26-Oct. 2 at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center to test the integration of unmanned aircraft systems, communications technology and situational awareness capabilities, the U.S. Department of War said.
The exercise brought together personnel from the 3rd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group; the 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Florida National Guard; Navy SEAL Teams 10 and 7; the 2nd Marine Division; and U.S. Marine Forces Special Operations Command.
Participants tested how unmanned systems and operational information could be shared among military units and mission partners through a secure platform provided by industry partners.
The Florida National Guard's Situational Awareness Integration Team provisioned approximately 82 assault kits and personal devices and used eight video feeds to maintain situational awareness during the exercise. Personnel in the field shared locations, threats and mission information to create a comprehensive operating picture.
The exercise demonstrated the capability to share assault kit position location information, operational overlays and full-motion video from unmanned systems with U.S. Northern Command in Colorado Springs and Joint Task Force National Capital Region in the Washington area.
"By integrating unmanned systems and our latest situational awareness and mission command software together, we are eliminating stovepipe systems... providing commanders with a clearer, fused operational picture that enables faster, better-informed decisions," said Army Maj. Gen. Robert Carruthers, Florida Army National Guard commander.