Drone disaster? Famed U.S. Army faces backlash as equipment fails in hot weather and heavy rain
Drone operations by the
U.S. Army
are running into problems that aren't caused by enemy fire. The harsh tropical weather in the Pacific is what is keeping important equipment from working. While working together with the Philippines, American troops are rushing to make technology work in bad weather.
Why are U.S. Army drones failing in the Pacific?
According to a top officer, the US Army's drone arsenal is facing some difficulties due to the hot and humid weather in the Western Pacific, as per a report by Business Insider.
The Army and its Philippine counterparts are currently training for what a war in the Indo-Pacific might entail in the Philippines as part of the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center-Exportable exercise. It's all part of getting ready for future wars in the Indo-Pacific.
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Army Maj. Gen. Marcus Evans, the commander of the 25th Infantry Division based in Hawaii, claimed that the heat and regional weather patterns are the main problems with drone operations in this region, BI reported.
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In the Philippines, extreme heat (up to 90 degrees Fahrenheit) affects drone performance, specifically battery life, limiting the range and duration of drone flights. Battery technology is similarly affected by cold climates, such as Alaska's Arctic tundra.
Certain UAVs' ability to take off and land vertically can occasionally be impacted by wind and rain. Southeast Asia is experiencing the monsoon season, which means there is constant humidity and a lot of rain. They've observed a decrease in their flying endurance and distance, stated Evans.
According to him, his soldiers must become "accustomed to the endurance levels of the unmanned aerial systems" in this area "so that they can integrate those into tactical plans."
What solutions are troops testing in real time?
US soldiers have been working on immediate solutions, such as swarming drones, flying more drones, or locating new drone launch sites. While launching multiple drones or swarming them reduces the reliance on a single drone for mission execution, different regions may experience varying weather and temperatures. For these capabilities, this type of adaptive work is taking place throughout the division, not just in a single brigade or formation.
The 25th Infantry Brigade was only utilizing small drones, which have a range of roughly three to five kilometers depending on the situation, during a training in Hawaii last fall.
What role does the Army's 'Transformation in Contact' program play?
The learn-in-the-moment strategy aligns with the Army's Transformation in Contact program, which expedites soldiers' integration, testing, and improvement of new weapons before incorporating the input into operational planning. 3D printing for first-person view drones is one more recent addition to the ongoing training.
Drone warfare and other technologies can be learned from the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. In particular, Philippine soldiers can learn a lot about fighting in the Pacific.
FAQs
What is causing the US Army's drone issues in the Pacific?
Extreme heat, humidity, and monsoon rains are reducing drone range and efficiency.
How are soldiers dealing with these technical failures?
They are flying multiple drones, adjusting launch zones, and even 3D printing parts to ensure mission readiness.
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