The U.S. Army is in the process of evaluating various technologies, including bomber, attack, and surveillance drones. The field testing activities are being carried out as part of the Combined Resolve 25-1 exercise, maneuvers taking place at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany.

According to the U.S. Army, personnel from the 317th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, “…is implementing its Transformation in Contact initiative, using new technologies and systems designed to enhance their warfighting readiness and ability to respond to crises or conflicts….” To achieve this, they are employing a variety of drones, including attack, surveillance, and bomber types.
In the images published by the U.S. Army, two drone models can be seen: the Ghost-X from Anduril and the C100D produced by PDW. Both unmanned aerial vehicles are being tested under operational conditions in the field, applying lessons learned from battlefields in Ukraine and Israel, among other ongoing conflicts.
According to Anduril’s description, the Ghost-X is a drone designed “…to meet current and future operator demands in the most challenging environments. Ghost-X flies farther, for longer durations, and with more payloads to provide a single multi-mission asset that extends operational reach and effective time on station in austere conditions.… A single Ghost-X can host multiple payloads and sensor types to enhance situational awareness and mission flexibility.…”

The PDW C100D is a multi-purpose platform that combines the record-breaking speed and agility of a small drone with the adaptability of a foldable design, as well as featuring AI-assisted autonomous software. “…The result is a unit-level air support system capable of navigating, identifying, and executing missions…,” the manufacturer highlights. The C100 version boasts an autonomy of 74 minutes, a payload capacity of 4.5 kilograms, and a top speed exceeding 64 km/h.
As seen in the photographs released by the U.S. Army, the C100D is being evaluated in its role as a bomber, applying experiences and lessons learned from the War in Ukraine. The configuration of these unmanned aerial vehicles is similar to the Ukrainian “Vampire,” also known as “Baba Yaga.” These Ukrainian-developed drone models are a real headache for Russian forces, as they can operate over long distances and under the cover of darkness thanks to their electro-optical systems.
During the development of the Combined Resolve 25-1 exercise, the U.S. Army is employing its “Transformation in Contact” (TiC) concept to “…rapidly implement and test a range of off-the-shelf technologies and capabilities. TiC is designed to help Army units stay agile in a rapidly changing battlefield environment.… TiC is built on a simple principle: enhancing the lethality of U.S. Army formations by creating more agile and mobile units capable of responding to complex combat scenarios…,” detailed the U.S. Army Training Command’s 7th Army Directorate in its press release.

Cover Image: US Army – Pfc. Sar Paw
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