{"id":38529,"date":"2016-04-03T20:02:01","date_gmt":"2016-04-03T20:02:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2016\/04\/03\/army-wants-mini-drones-for-its-squads-by-2018\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T03:22:04","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:22:04","slug":"army-wants-mini-drones-for-its-squads-by-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2016\/04\/03\/army-wants-mini-drones-for-its-squads-by-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"Army wants mini-drones for its squads by 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The Army is moving forward with a plan to put\u00a0<span class=\"rte rte-comment\">has taken a key step towards handing <\/span>pocket-sized drones in the hands of <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">to <\/span>its dismounted soldiers by 2018.\u00a0<span class=\"rte rte-comment\">squads, with plans for broad\u00a0distribution through\u00a0a funded program in 2018 and limited fielding before that.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The service on <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">On <\/span>March 1 <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">the Army <\/span>requested information papers from industry on what technology might be available for what it\u2019s calling Soldier Borne Sensors<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"notes\" src=\"\/DesktopModules\/UDMW\/TextEditor\/images\/cq.png\"\/>.\u00a0The Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Benning, Georgia, has\u00a0a preliminary set of requirements and plans to go back-and-forth with industry on what already exists or could become quickly available.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;We\u2019ve had numerous studies as well as experimentation within our battle labs. We continue to see that soldiers are kind of lacking at the squad level for relevant information that\u2019s immediately around them,&#8221; said Phil Cheatum, deputy branch chief of electronics and special developments at MCoE<span class=\"rte rte-comment\">, said Tuesday<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But he also added:\u00a0&#8220;We don&#8217;t know what we don&#8217;t know about what&#8217;s out there right now.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unmanned aerial systems such as\u00a0<span class=\"rte rte-comment\">Drones like <\/span>the Gray Eagle and Shadow, which are part of\u00a0<span class=\"rte rte-comment\">native to\u00a0<\/span>larger units, have improved\u00a0situational awareness <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">capability <\/span>for the Army. But a squad trying to clear a city\u00a0block or go over a hill can remain blind to more detailed and rapidly changing threats. A quickly-deployable SBS would give <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">allow <\/span>squads real-time ability to inspect its\u00a0most intimate threats.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The technology and concept are not new. British and Norwegian forces have been using PD-100 Black Hornet drones since about 2012, and the British have heavily leaned on\u00a0them in Afghanistan. Last spring, the Army <a href=\"http:\/\/www.marinecorpstimes.com\/story\/military\/tech\/2015\/09\/22\/marines-get-closer-look-black-hornet-micro-drone\/72635758\/\">tested them<\/a> along with a number of other gadgets at Maneuver Battle Lab Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiments at Fort Benning. U.S. special operations forces have deployed with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/635950346231071888-021113dn-nano-uavjpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-74298\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/635950346231071888-021113dn-nano-uavjpg.jpg 960w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/635950346231071888-021113dn-nano-uavjpg.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/635950346231071888-021113dn-nano-uavjpg.jpg?resize=768,512 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sergeant Scott Weaver, of The Queens Royal Lancers launches a Black Hornet, Nano UAV from a compound in Afghanistan during Operation QALB.\r \rOp QALB is a joint ISAF and ANSF operation, its aim is find enemy caches and disturb Insurgent supply chains.  <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span>Sergeant Scott Weaver, of The Queens Royal Lancers launches a Black Hornet, Nano UAV from a compound in Afghanistan during Operation QALB. Op QALB is a joint ISAF and ANSF operation, its aim is find enemy caches and disturb Insurgent supply chains. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span>Photo Credit: Sgt Rupert Frere\/RLC<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cheatum said the Army hopes to learn lessons from those early adopters to find the best capabilities\u00a0and seek a more affordable solution <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">better priced <\/span>for a much larger\u00a0<span class=\"rte rte-comment\">more vast distribution <\/span>population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;The only problem we&#8217;d have with a capability like that [is] the Black Hornet is individually handmade,&#8221;\u00a0Cheatum said. &#8220;When you&#8217;re talking about individually handmade, you&#8217;re talking about an expensive piece of equipment.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lt. Col. Timothy Fuller, product manager for soldier maneuver sensors at MCoE, said <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">the <\/span>there will be an industry day on April 12, the first of many over the next couple of years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At <a href=\"http:\/\/www.armytimes.com\/story\/military\/tech\/2015\/04\/06\/benning-aewe-battelab-tech\/70214876\/\">AEWE last year<\/a>,\u00a0soldiers said\u00a0the Black Hornet\u00a0would have been invaluable during past deployments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;I was in Basra [Iraq]. There&#8217;s a lot of roads that you don&#8217;t really know where they go,&#8221; Staff Sgt. Andrew Smith told Army Times<span class=\"rte rte-comment\"> a year ago<\/span>. &#8220;In Afghanistan, I can&#8217;t tell you the number of times you just want to know what&#8217;s on the other side of a hill.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Requirements for SBS \u2014 informed by experimentation efforts like AEWE \u2014 remain preliminary and fluid at this point; the Army isn\u2019t publicizing <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">detailed <\/span>specifics. But Cheatum laid out some basics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2022 Max weight of 150 grams: <\/strong>The device should weigh less than a third of a pound\u00a0and ideally fit into a cargo pocket to avoid adding any additional burden to soldiers already loaded\u00a0down with gear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2022\u00a0Deployable within 60 seconds:<\/strong> Soldiers should be able to get it in the air quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2022\u00a0A 15-minute flight time:<\/strong> The Army needs the SBS to stay in the air long enough to capture relevant information\u00a0and, ideally, return to its operator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2022\u00a0Capable camera:<\/strong> Cheatum said it should be able to detect a human-sized object within 50 to\u00a075 feet with &#8220;90 percent probability.&#8221; The camera will provide soldiers a real-time feed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u2022\u00a0Wind tolerance of 10 to\u00a015 knots: <\/strong>While such a small UAS likely won\u2019t fly in rough conditions<span class=\"rte rte-comment\">a hurricane<\/span>, Cheatum said the SBS should be able to operate in light winds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2022\u00a0Range of 500 to\u00a01,200 meters:<\/strong> With line of sight, the drone should be operable from a reasonable distance, with the ability to bring it home after gathering the intel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Black Hornet weighs just over half an ounce (18 grams) and, including the controller, the system weighs just under three pounds (1.3 kg) total, according to maker <a href=\"http:\/\/www.proxdynamics.com\/products\/pd-100-black-hornet-prs\">Prox Dynamics<\/a>. \u00a0It can fly for about 25 minutes at <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">a <\/span>speeds of up to 11 miles per hour and has a line-of-sight range of 1600 meters. Cameras can be aimed and send a live feed to the controller while also able to take <span class=\"rte rte-comment\">still <\/span>more detailed still shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the British Ministry of Defence,<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"notes\" src=\"\/DesktopModules\/UDMW\/TextEditor\/images\/cq.png\"\/> a 2013 Black Hornet contract for 160 units <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/miniature-surveillance-helicopters-help-protect-front-line-troops\">cost\u00a0\u00a320 million<\/a> (roughly $30 million, or about $190,000 per PD-100).<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"notes\" src=\"\/DesktopModules\/UDMW\/TextEditor\/images\/cq.png\"\/>\u00a0<span class=\"rte rte-comment\">(KJ NOTE: If\u00a0you check the math, keep in mind exchange rates shift over time&#8230;used a rough estimate of early 2013 exchange rates and rounded).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Kyle Jahner covers soldier uniforms and equipment, Medical Command and Recruiting Command along with investigations and other breaking news for Army Times. He can be reached at kjahner@armytimes.com.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Army has taken a key step towards handing pocket-sized drones to its dismounted squads.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":74292,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":70,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[12,70],"tags":[],"coauthors":[840],"class_list":["post-38529","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-your-army"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"2DYHLRNGJZHWFLYBLAYV5T4E2Q","arc_canonical_url":"\/news\/your-army\/2016\/04\/03\/army-wants-mini-drones-for-its-squads-by-2018\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Army wants mini-drones for its squads by 2018 - Army Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Army has taken a key step towards handing pocket-sized drones to its dismounted squads.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Army wants mini-drones for its squads by 2018\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Army has taken a key step towards handing pocket-sized drones to its dismounted squads.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2016\/04\/03\/army-wants-mini-drones-for-its-squads-by-2018\/\" 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