U.S. Army To Test Networked Drone Swarms

The upcoming experiment in Utah is the largest drone swarm test ever conducted by the U.S. Army.

Kimberly Johnson

Friday, April 29, 2022 at 04:51 PM ET

Verified

The test will include a swarm of up to 30 drones. [Courtesy: U.S. Army]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Army is conducting its largest-ever drone swarm test, involving nearly three dozen networked combat drones, at Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, as part of the EDGE22 exercise.
The drones, including ALTIUS 600 and Coyote systems, are launched from aircraft and ground vehicles to converge on targets, conduct surveillance, and relay intelligence.
These "Air Launched Effects" (ALE) drones are designed to extend reach in the lower tier air domain, providing capabilities for surveillance, electronic warfare, and strike missions.
The test is a crucial part of the Army's future vertical lift modernization effort, assessing new tactics and technologies for achieving overmatch against near-peer adversaries.

See a mistake? Contact us.

In the days ahead, a swarm of nearly three dozen networked combat drones will be launched from aircraft and ground vehicles, filling the sky above the Great Salt Lake Desert. While seemingly an image ripped from a script of a Hollywood blockbuster, the scene is no science fiction, but instead the largest drone swarm test ever conducted by the U.S. Army.

The drone experiment, which is being held at Dugway Proving Ground near Salt Lake City, Utah as part of the U.S. Army’s 2022 Experimental Demonstration Gateway Exercise (EDGE22), is a look to the future, according to a top Army official.