“If we have a FPV-style drone that is lethal and armed, and we expect that soldier to hit a very precise target at a very precise point … that soldier is going to need a much higher level of skill and training,” said Col. Nick Ryan, the director of Army UAS Transformation with the Aviation Center of Excellence.
After the Army Transformation Initiative shook up drone plans, the service wants a replacement for older Gray Eagles in 2028 and the Shadow in 2026, according to a service official.
Government can’t stop to update systems, so modernization has to happen without interruptions.
The recent directive is expected to get the services to treat small UAS as expendable items, much like artillery shells and ammunition, and cut down on the time-consuming Financial Liability Investigation of Property Loss incidents.