The U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is launching a specialized training program to equip its elite forces with expertise in building and operating first-person-view (FPV) drones. This program signals a significant doctrinal shift influenced by contemporary conflicts.
Naval Special Warfare Command spearheads this strategic move. It integrates the tactical advantages of small, agile unmanned aerial systems into special operations, reflecting lessons from their prominent role in the Ukraine-Russia war. The comprehensive 10-day curriculum immerses operators in component assembly, software configuration, advanced flight maneuvers, and in-field repairs.
A recent solicitation outlined the rigorous program, which targets up to six personnel for intensive FPV drone technology instruction. Participants undergo 35 hours of foundational FPV development, learning system design principles, component sourcing, circuitry, assembly techniques, and troubleshooting. This phase also emphasizes secure operation protocols and safe battery handling. Following theoretical instruction, five hours of hands-on build training focuses on practical skills like soldering, intricate wiring, and configuring flight control software such as Betaflight and Ardupilot. This training ensures operators can maintain and rectify issues in the field.
FPV drones’ proven efficacy in modern combat drives SOCOM’s initiative, especially their transformative impact in the Ukraine-Russia war. These drones offer distinct advantages: low cost, remarkable agility, and the immersive perspective they provide operators. Their capacity for precise targeting, reconnaissance, and coordinated attacks challenges and often overwhelms traditional defensive measures, making them an indispensable asset for small battlefield units.
This extensive FPV drone training underscores a broader adaptation in military strategy to global conflict’s evolving nature. Asymmetric warfare tactics, where technologically adept adversaries leverage accessible and inexpensive technologies, prevail. SOCOM fosters internal expertise in constructing and operating these versatile platforms. This enhances capabilities in precision reconnaissance and target acquisition, minimizes reliance on external logistical chains, and fosters greater autonomy in austere environments. The initiative cultivates a new generation of special operators proficient in high-tech improvisation.
SOCOM’s investment in FPV drone proficiency significantly recalibrates special operations doctrine. It prepares elite forces to navigate and dominate tomorrow’s complex, technologically dynamic battlefields.