US Army orders long-range reconnaissance drones

The US Army has announced it will field new long-range reconnaissance drones to its forces this year as part of its ongoing push to modernise its combat capabilities, according to an August 21 press release. The move, which directly supports the Secretary of Defence’s initiative to “Unleash US Military Drone Dominance,” will see the initial delivery of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) from two different manufacturers.

Contracts have been awarded to AeroVironment and Edge Autonomy for the rapid delivery of their P550 and Stalker Block 35X drone systems, respectively. These Group 2 UAS are intended to provide reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition (RSTA) capabilities directly to manoeuvre battalions, offering organic aerial reconnaissance for ground commanders.

The P550, delivered by AeroVironment, is an autonomous Group 2 eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) system. According to a separate press release from AeroVironment, this system is part of a series of deliveries under an existing contract for the US Army’s Long-Range Reconnaissance (LRR) programme. These systems are described as being able to operate from confined spaces without the need for a runway, offering a versatile solution for a range of operational environments.

The LRR program focuses on delivering Group 2 UAS—drones weighing less than 27 kg—that are specifically designed for long-range missions and to provide RSTA for battalion-level commanders. It is the US Army’s response to the Secretary of Defence’s initiative mentioned above, and hopes to equip every unit with some form of reconnaissance drone. 

The strategy aims to achieve speed by working with multiple vendors, which it is also hoped will encourage competition and ensure soldiers receive the best possible technology in a timely manner. The initial systems will be used to develop operator training that is “Military Occupational Skill (MOS) agnostic,” meaning any soldier will be able to operate the platforms.

Transformation in Contact 2.0 Initiative

The fielding of these drones is a key component of the “Transformation in Contact 2.0 (TiC)” initiative. This programme aims to enhance the capabilities of US Army units, particularly at the battalion level, by providing them with organic, cutting-edge technology to improve tactical superiority and situational awareness on the battlefield. The initiative focuses on equipping soldiers with advanced tools to meet evolving mission demands, with a strong emphasis on integrating new drone technology into combat operations.

TiC 2.0 specifically expands upon the initial TiC 1.0, moving from a focus on light infantry brigades to a wider range of units, including divisions, armored brigade combat teams, Stryker brigade combat teams, and units from the Army National Guard and Reserve. Other procurements include the fielding of Infantry Squad Vehicles to an entire brigade to improve their mobility, as well as electronic warfare systems like the Transformation-in-Contact Mobile Node-Terrestrial (TMNT) system. At least part of the goal is to rapidly field capabilities that are in earlier stages of development and test them, as well as new force structures, to see how they work. This approach has been used in the past by the US Army and has led to the Multi-Domain Task Force concept, which is now significantly shaping the way the US Army wants to fight in the Indo-Pacific. 

Calibre comment

Rapid transformation is the order of the day for Western forces and is taking place under several initiatives. The UK has initiated Project ASGARD, which has examined the possibilities for increased lethality of its land forces through greater connectivity between its sensors and shooters. Germany has announced immense levels of funding and procured loitering munitions from Stark and Helsing for experimentation. Denmark and Estonia have both injected several billion Euros into their defence budgets to speed up procurement of much-needed systems and ammunition. Another European country recently placed a large order with Elbit Systems, which effectively included a complete suite of defence equipment from communications through to reconnaissance and strike platforms.

However, the US arguably has the training estate and resources to properly experiment with new systems and concepts as they are introduced. This is sorely lacking in many European forces, which are confined to simulations to test many of their new systems and concepts of operation. This is not inherently bad, so long as the physical training element can also be taken care of. Long-range reconnaissance assets should not be so problematic as they are familiar and widely used. But the implications of having hundreds or even thousands of drones in the air simultaneously with fixed and rotary wing aircraft as well as indirect fires are difficult to anticipate without real-world experience. 

By Sam Cranny-Evans, published on August 26, 2025. Credit for the lead image is AeroVironment.