Technology
British troops evaluate operational limits of aerial and ground drones in desert exercise
Exercises at Fort Irwin highlighted constraints including high unit costs, battery life, and harsh environmental conditions.
The short version
- British Army units tested uncrewed ground and aerial systems during a U.S.-led exercise at Fort Irwin in California.
- Soldiers identified key operational challenges, including high costs for ground robots, limited battery life and loitering time for aerial drones, and performance issues in extreme heat.
- Military commanders emphasized the need for cheaper, more abundant drones that can be treated as consumable supplies like ammunition during combat operations.
Key facts
- The British Army's 2nd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment, and 1st Battalion Irish Guards tested uncrewed aerial and ground vehicles during a U.S.-led exercise at Fort Irwin, California.[Business Insider]
- Troops encountered operational hurdles during testing, including battery constraints, range limits, electronic warfare, connectivity issues, extreme heat, and rugged desert terrain.[Business Insider]
- Capt. Wick Willett and Lt. Col. John Black noted that uncrewed ground vehicles are currently too expensive to deploy in large volumes or treat as expendable assets.[Business Insider]
- The British Army relies on a two-part evaluation framework for drones: safety and integration trials prior to acquisition, alongside field experimentation for specific tactical applications like logistics and reconnaissance.[Business Insider]
What remains uncertain
- The exact cost per unit required to make uncrewed ground vehicles practical as expendable field equipment remains unspecified.[Business Insider]
Sources
- British soldiers are figuring out where flying drones and ground robots fall shortBusiness Insider metered