CAPT. JUSTIN BOGGS
Grafenwoehr Training Area Range Operations, Training Support Activity Europe,
7th Army Training Command
Grafenwoehr, Germany

Armed forces across the globe are strapping explosives to remote-controlled drones. These small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) are game changers, allowing units to gather crucial information and deliver deadly strikes without putting Soldiers directly in harm’s way. But this incredible tactical advantage brings plenty of new dangers to the battlefield. While these drones are undeniably helpful for commanders and Soldiers alike, understanding the risks they introduce is the only way we can figure out the best methods to keep our formations safe.

The Dangers of the Drone Fight

Using armed drones is a classic double-edged sword. On one hand, they give our troops a major advantage. On the other, the risks are serious, including friendly fire mishaps, enemies turning our own technology against us and drone operators inadvertently making themselves easy targets.

• Mishaps and friendly fire – Dropping a bomb from a small, flying drone is surprisingly difficult. A simple mistake, a sudden drop in communication or even a strong gust of wind can send an explosive way off course. That means the risk of accidentally injuring our own troops or innocent bystanders is always looming.
• The enemy can fight back – Every drone sends signals back to its operator, and to an enemy, that signal is a homing beacon. Once they trace it, they can fire rockets or mortars right at the Soldier flying the drone or even send their own drones to drop munitions. Enemies can also jam the signal to crash the drone, or hack in to hijack it. And since these systems are cheap, they can easily buy their own and throw the exact same threats right back at our Soldiers.
• Equipment frustrations – The gear we currently rely on to shoot down enemy drones is often large and, frankly, ineffective. When Soldiers don’t trust their equipment to do the job, it kills morale and puts them at unnecessary risk.

How We Can Reduce the Risks

We can manage these threats and protect our Soldiers by focusing on three straightforward areas:

• Drone and anti-drone training for everyone – As we’ve seen in current conflicts, defending against drones is everybody’s business. The old idea of a safe rear area and a clear front line just won’t hold up in the next fight. We need multiple drone operators down to the squad level, not just one or two in a platoon and a handful in the company headquarters platoon. Furthermore, drone defense can’t just be left to a few Stinger missiles placed around key command nodes by the battalion. We need layered systems — mixing new tech with simpler, cost-effective approaches. Think about it: can everyone in your platoon successfully shoot a clay pigeon?
• Practice with dummy munitions – We should swap in blank or dummy munitions during maneuver training. By using an sUAS to drop dummy rounds during simulated training exercises, Soldiers get the chance to build familiarity and effectiveness. It might not be as flashy as seeing a real explosion, but removing the need for a dedicated live-fire impact area greatly reduces the land and safety constraints required for practice.
• Simplify tactics and empower decision-making – Clear rules and simple tactics make all the difference. The sUAS operators should live by "launch-and-run" tactics so they never stay in one spot too long. Meanwhile, Soldiers on the ground need to use hills, trees and buildings to hide from overhead eyes, adding local foliage and gear like poncho liners to mask their thermal signatures. Getting cheaper, lighter anti-drone gear down to lower echelons will drastically increase the size of a unit’s protective air-defense bubble. Ultimately, armed drones need to be treated as expendable items, and commanders must plan for airspace coordination right at the start of their troop-leading procedures, not as an afterthought.

Final Thoughts

Armed drones are here, and they are only going to get more sophisticated. While the dangers are real, we can manage the risks and become a more effective force. By training more Soldiers, practicing with dummy munitions to mirror how we actually fight and keeping our tactics simple, we can protect our Soldiers and safely use these new tools to win. The biggest takeaway is that technology alone doesn’t ensure victory. If we want to reap the benefits of armed drones without paying a heavy price, we have to weave both flying them and fighting them into the daily habits of every Soldier.