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U.S. Army Sgt. Elena Killough and Sgt. Demond Blach, assigned to the Deathwatch Platoon, 10th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, conduct maintenance on an Unmanned Aircraft System during a first person view individual qualification on Grafenwöhr Training Area, July 21, 2025. The 1st ABCT, 3rd Infantry Division, tests purpose-built, retrievable FPV drones to highlight the ability against autonomous targets to improve battlefield readiness and integration with armored units. The 1st ABCT, 3rd Infantry Division, and V Corps are part of America’s Forward Deployed Corps in Europe which works alongside NATO Allies and regional security partners to provide combat-ready forces, execute joint and multinational training exercises, and retain command and assigned units in the European Theater. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Josefina Garcia)
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A U.S. Army Soldier assigned to the Deathwatch Platoon, 10th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, operates a first person view drone on a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) during individual qualification on Grafenwöhr Training Area, July 21, 2025. The 1st ABCT, 3rd Infantry Division, tests purpose-built, retrievable FPV drones to highlight the ability against autonomous targets to improve battlefield readiness and integration with armored units. The 1st ABCT, 3rd Infantry Division, and V Corps are part of America’s Forward Deployed Corps in Europe which works alongside NATO Allies and regional security partners to provide combat-ready forces, execute joint and multinational training exercises, and retain command and assigned units in the European Theater. (US Army Photo by Spc. Josefina Garcia)
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U.S. Army Sgt. Elena Killough with the Deathwatch Platoon, 10th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, shows a completed first person view drone prior to taking flight during an individual crew qualification on Grafenwöhr Training Area, July 21, 2025. The 1st ABCT, 3rd Infantry Division, and V Corps are part of America’s Forward Deployed Corps in Europe which works alongside NATO Allies and regional security partners to provide combat-ready forces, execute joint and multinational training exercises, and retain command and control for its rotational and assigned units in the European Theater. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Dylan Bailey)
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U.S. Army Sgt. Elena Killough and Sgt. Demond Blach, assigned to the Deathwatch Platoon, 10th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, prepare an Unmanned Aircraft System during a first person view individual qualification on Grafenwöhr Training Area, July 21, 2025. The 1st ABCT, 3rd Infantry Division, tests purpose-built, retrievable FPV drones to highlight the ability against autonomous targets to improve battlefield readiness and integration with armored units. The 1st Infantry Division and V Corps are part of America’s Forward Deployed Corps in Europe which works alongside NATO Allies and regional security partners to provide combat-ready forces, execute joint and multinational training exercises, and retain command and assigned units in the European Theater. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Josefina Garcia)
(Photo Credit: Spc. Josefina Garcia)VIEW ORIGINAL
GRAFENWOEHR – In the wet and rainy woods of Germany, drone blades whirr and cut through the drizzle as Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division test newly minted First Person View (FPV) drones. These drones are part of a U.S. and U.K. led initiative to conduct a series of UAS exercises designed to test new, low-cost, and portable methods for defeating adversaries utilizing small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS), dubbed ‘Project Flytrap’. The drones Soldiers are testing are designed to be one-way single munition-drones that strike a moving or stationary target. As weapon systems, these small FPV drones are inexpensive and portable, allowing individuals to deploy them in combat without relying on larger, more expensive weapon systems.
This small drone training event is part of the Army’s goal of working to mass produce ‘FPV/PBAS’ drones – ‘PBAS’ being ‘Purpose Built Attritable System’ and field them to formations across the force. These PBAS drones are designed to carry a variety of ‘lethal/non-lethal armaments and munitions’ and can engage mounted and dismounted enemy systems. Currently, one PBAS system consists of ‘First Person Viewer (FPV) goggles, a controller, a display, two 10" air vehicles and four 5" air vehicles and costs around $35K. Depending on the other items, the drones are likely to be around $5k each.
"This type of training allows us to test and modify our drones as well as practice our drone tactics," said Sgt. Elena Killough with the 10th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team. "I really enjoy this type of training, and being able to fly FPV drones is very rewarding, especially when you hit the target!"
During these types of training events, Soldiers test the drone prototypes to evaluate and collect lessons learned to provide recommendations on how to adopt new technologies and strategies to improve their unit’s lethality and warfighting capability. The 2nd Cavalry Regiment, currently stationed at Grafenwoehr, will be providing significant feedback on the usability and functionality of PBAS systems as they integrate them into their upcoming Saber Junction exercise in September 2025.
This FPV drone live-fire demonstrates how the US Army continues to evolve its TiC (Transformation in Contact) drone initiative, which facilitates learning on how to best utilize and integrate current and future technology into the force’s training and operations.
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