Revolutionizing Army Capabilities: Why Treating Drones as Ammunition is Essential
The modern battlefield is rapidly evolving, and small drones are proving to be indispensable tools for soldiers. Though, current Army procurement and logistical processes hinder their widespread adoption and effective use. This article argues for a fundamental shift: treating small drones as ammunition. This approach will unlock their full potential, enhance operator skill, and ultimately strengthen national security.
The Current Challenges
Right now, acquiring and deploying drones is often bogged down in bureaucratic hurdles. Units face lengthy property accountability processes, limited training opportunities, and unpredictable resupply chains. This restricts live, hands-on experience – the only reliable way to build proficiency with this technology. These issues stifle innovation and prevent soldiers from fully leveraging the tactical advantages drones offer.
A New Paradigm: Drones as Ammunition
Imagine a system where drones are allocated to units annually, much like bullets or grenades.This isn’t about diminishing the technology; it’s about streamlining access and maximizing impact. Here’s how it effectively works:
* Annual Allocations: Commanders receive pre-defined drone ceilings,providing budgetary predictability.
* Transparent Forecasting: The existing ammunition forecasting system provides visibility into demand.
* Controlled Costs: Predictable demand stabilizes pricing and encourages quality improvements from suppliers.
* Simplified Logistics: A clear “forecast,draw,fly,turn in” loop mirrors established ammunition procedures.
This simple, auditable system gets capable drones into yoru hands, aligning peacetime training directly with wartime realities. It removes the complexities of property loss investigations and fosters a culture of consistent, practical application.
Implementing the Change: A Phased Approach
The Army can begin this transformation immediately with a three-pronged strategy:
- Integrate into Annual Allocations: Start by including drones in squad and platoon-level tasks.
- Establish Role-Based Families: The SkyFoundry rollout provides an ideal chance to create drone families tailored to specific missions – reconnaissance and first-person view (FPV) drones are excellent starting points.
- Pilot programs: Leverage transforming-in-contact brigades, which already demonstrate proficiency with small drone integration, as testbeds for this new system.
These steps will provide suppliers with predictable demand, simplify unit processes, and allow the Army to scale drone capabilities using a system it already understands.
Beyond the Basics: Expanding the Vision
This “drones as ammunition” approach isn’t limited to current capabilities. It’s a flexible framework that can adapt to future advancements:
* Occupational Specialties: This system complements, rather than hinders, potential expansions of drone-related military occupational specialties.
* Expanding Drone Families: The lessons learned in Ukraine highlight the growing importance of ground and maritime drones. The ammunition system can readily accommodate these emerging technologies.
* one-Way Attack Drones: Even complex, one-way attack drones can be managed within this framework. the Army already handles elegant and expensive systems like the Patriot missile, demonstrating the system’s capacity for complexity.
The Bottom Line
Small drones are no longer simply reconnaissance tools; they are critical components of modern warfare. By treating them as ammunition, the Army can unlock their full potential, empower its soldiers, and maintain a decisive edge on the battlefield. It’s a practical, scalable, and cost-effective solution that will revolutionize how you fight and win.
zachary Griffiths commands 4th Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne).
Jeff Ivas commands the Advanced Technical Operations Company in 4th battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne).
The views and opinions presented here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army or any part of the U.S. government.
Please note, as a matter of house style War on the Rocks will not use a different name for the U.S. Department of Defense until and unless the name is changed by statute by the U.S. Congress.
image: Sgt. Chandler Coats via DVIDS
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