Drones play an important role in war
As can be seen from the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, drones play an increasingly important role in modern warfare. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, both sides have used drones extensively for surveillance and target identification. This makes how to effectively deal with drone threats an important challenge facing the armies of various countries. In this regard, Brian Conner, a former Army sergeant and current instructor, said in training that the threat of drones has completely changed the battlefield environment, and troops must be prepared and not be caught off guard.
The U.S. Army conducts drone jammer training and training content
In May 2024, a U.S. Army unit stationed in Poland received drone signal jammer training in Boleslawiec, Poland. The two-day training was conducted by soldiers of the Texas National Guard under the leadership of the First Cavalry Division, mainly involving the operation of a lightweight handheld jammer device called "Dronebuster". This device can detect and interfere with small commercial and recreational drones, blocking radio communications between them and their ground control stations, forcing drones to land or return.
The training includes not only theoretical courses but also practical operations. During the training, soldiers learned the principles and use of the equipment in the classroom in the morning and conducted practical exercises outdoors in the afternoon. Edgar Galvan, a geospatial intelligence image analyst from the Texas National Guard, said that this training made him feel the reality of the threat. Although his main job does not involve drone interceptors, it is very important to master these skills because the battlefield environment is full of uncertainty and soldiers may need to deal with the threat of drones at any time.
Also leading the training was Warrant Officer 4 Benjamin Richards, an air and missile defense system integrator who specializes in designing and implementing training programs for drone interceptors. Richards emphasized that early training is critical for soldiers to master the operation of new equipment. Although the Army is good at providing courses and training, only when soldiers operate the equipment themselves and understand how it works can they truly master the skills to deal with drone threats.
It is worth noting that this is not the first time the US military has conducted such training. In June 2023, pilots at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia also received similar training. Drone technology in the Middle East is considered to be the most advanced and deadly in the world, and countering these threats has always been a priority for the US military. In the Russian-Ukrainian war, Russia also relied heavily on drone technology provided by Iran, which further highlighted the importance of drone interception equipment.
Summary
The training conducted in Boleslawiec, Poland not only demonstrated the US military's ability to technically deal with drone threats, but also demonstrated its presence and determination on NATO's eastern flank. As drone technology continues to develop, similar training will become more frequent and important in the future, providing guarantees for responding to evolving battlefield threats.