82nd Airborne soldiers train on drone-countering maneuvers used in Ukraine
Summary
Soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division trained at Fort Bragg to use small drones called Bumblebees to combat other drones, a tactic seen in the Ukraine conflict. The training focuses on operating inexpensive, hand-held drones designed to destroy enemy drones quickly and efficiently.Key Facts
- The training used Bumblebee V1 and V2 drones, with V1 requiring manual control and V2 featuring automatic target tracking.
- Bumblebee drones are small, portable, and designed to take down smaller drones, not large ones like the Iranian Shaheds.
- Training is expanding to multiple U.S. bases and a U.S. Central Command center in the Middle East.
- The Defense Department formed a task force to develop and coordinate counter-drone technologies due to threats from drone attacks near U.S. bases and conflicts like in Ukraine and with Iran.
- Bumblebee drones cost significantly less than traditional missile interceptors, making them more affordable for widespread use.
- The drones have cameras and propellers on four legs, with V2 having upgraded sensors and a movable camera.
- The drones are produced by Perennial Autonomy, a U.S. defense company supported by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt.
- The military aims to avoid producing large numbers of ineffective systems by closely working with developers during training.
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