The United States Army’s 5th Armored Brigade continued its counter-uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS) programme at Fort Bliss with a training exercise that concluded on March 5.
“The 5th AR Brigade continues to develop and provide comprehensive C-UAS training, featuring dynamic threat scenarios, multiple training iterations, and live-fire exercises,” said Col. Douglas F. Serie, commander of the 5th Armored Brigade. “These pre-deployment exercises instill confidence in mobilised soldiers, ensuring they are proficient in their systems, tactics, and procedures essential for combat readiness.”
Soldiers with the 2-130th Infantry Regiment learned the foundation of base defence operation centres and the military’s Mobile Low, Slow Unmanned Aircraft Integrated Defense System (M-LIDS), then put their knowledge of systems and processes to the test during a mission readiness exercise, culminating in a week-long live-fire engagement to prepare crews for the Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve force protection mission at their various outstations in Iraq and Syria in Spring 2025.
“We provide training for the M-LIDS, a dual vehicle solution that provides four different kinetic weapon systems, radar acquisition, and electromagnetic warfare capabilities, which allows soldiers to perform air defence support,” said Brandon C. Haines, M-LIDS Training and Operations Integrator, PM C-UAS (Astrion). “The drone acquisition comes in, crew cross-coordinates, and then they put fire on target. Training normally includes an academic portion, a hands-on portion, and ultimately, the live-fire exercise. They do emplacement drills, weapons acquisition, drone acquisition, and then put it all together to be one cohesive crew before they move into theater.”
Observer controller/trainers (OC/T) with 3rd Battalion, 362nd Infantry Regiment relay operations-specific lessons learned best practices, successful C-UAS integration techniques, and quick action drills to better equip 2-130th Inf. Regt.’s transition into the CJTF-OIR region.
“We understood that individual proficiency on C-UAS capabilities didn’t help soldiers understand how it came together when they worked as a crew,” said Lt. Col. Jerome E. Hilliard, 3-362nd Inf. Regt. commander. “We went from computer-based training to more realistic, hands-on training so that force protection crews work collectively to understand how their piece of the pie comes together in C-UAS processes. We use live equipment, radars, C-UAS systems, and drones swarming together, allowing crews to realise first-hand the impact of identifying the threat, mitigating those risks, or not identifying them and realising the detrimental effect on the unit. We allow the rotational training unit to see and experience things that they may or may not experience downrange but in a controlled environment.”
“At Camp Atterbury, we provided classroom-based C-UAS training to help us understand the threat, capabilities, and technology,” said Staff Sgt. Joseph Watkins, infantry manoeuvre OC/T with 1-335th Inf. Regt. “What’s beneficial about the training we’re doing here is our ability to put into practice and build upon what we’ve learned this past year. We get to see not only what the drones can do but what they look like, how they operate, and how effective our equipment can be in real time because you can’t get that in the classroom.”
“My favorite part of the training was seeing the role M-LIDS plays in base defence, scanning for UAS, communication with the base defence operations centre, and seeing how all the pieces fit together when providing security,” said Spc. Jack Gregory, an infantryman with Alpha Company, 2-130th Inf. Regt. “One of the biggest worries between me and my fellow soldiers nowadays is drone warfare, as it’s become prevalent in the area that we’re deploying to. Especially on social media, many of my fellow soldiers have seen attacks, and this training provides a morale boost, knowing that we can defend ourselves against this emerging threat.”
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Image: US Army photo by Staff Sgt. Raquel Birk
