The current focus for procurement of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) has been on the newest and shiniest drones with the coolest thingamajigs, while acquiring better support systems has been pushed to the back burner. The adage “Logistics wins wars” has been drilled into us as senior leaders, but it’s one we seem to have forgotten in relation to our drones.
What is required is a fundamental shift in mindset: we should be thinking of our drones almost as soldiers, realising they are the end item that fights the wars… but they need the right support to do so. Then we can start to see that the requisition of support functions should be prioritised over the drones themselves, with an emphasis on being usable across all platforms, crucial for getting the most out of available units and systems. On the field, three revolutions are already taking place across support systems - in power generation, comms & extensions, and right to repair.
Power Overwhelming
Until now, power generation, even up until the GWOT era, has never been seen as much of an obstacle. We would take a compound, roll in a few massive 20K generators with a fuel tanker, and have a reliable energy source to keep our tactical operations centers (TOCs) running and our batteries charged.
With recent changes to the battlefield, as we have seen in the war in Ukraine, this is no longer an option. Not only are they loud and require a constant stream of fuel to run, but they are also hot. The advancements in IR drone camera capabilities make them prime targets, unless they are buried or placed in a basement somewhere - which means we need to be looking at alternate power sources.
What has emerged as the superior option: portable power stations, compact, easy-to-use, and rechargeable battery systems that can be charged in the rear and brought forward into the fight. These power stations can be compared to the pocket-sized power banks you charge your phone with, but on a totally different scale. Power stations like the EcoFlow Delta series, the Anker SOLIX series, and Jackery Explorer series can be moved easily, with some of them even boasting the ability to run a 200w refrigerator for days (or smaller appliances for weeks) on a single charge.
Switching power generation from traditional generators to power stations not only reduces your element’s footprints on the warfront, but it also eliminates the need for fuel resupplies and the need to have additional maintenance personnel to keep them running.
Do You Have Wi-Fi?
There have been commensurate advances in communications, as well. For too long have we relied on re-transmission stations and OE-254 radio antenna systems. Re-transmission stations are hard to secure, time-consuming to stand up, and while great for conventional radio transmission, are not suitable for drones. Traditional antenna sets, like OE-254s or jungle antennae, don’t get the line-of-sight signal required to get the greatest distance, and ultimately the best lethal effect, that your drones are capable of. The alternatives that we need to invest greater time and money into are Variable Height Antennae (VHAs) and repeater systems.
VHAs are perfect for squad-sized elements to transport, while providing the ability to operate from camouflaged and concealed positions. Systems like the ones from Hoverfly are tethered drones where you place them down, hit the start button, and in minutes have a reliable antenna over the tree lines. VHAs are autonomous and offer modular antenna sets, which means they can be adapted to push the frequencies your drones are operating from by replacing the physical antennae or updating the preferred frequencies in the software.
Repeater-type systems offer extended range for both FPV and ISR assets that are variably software, hardware, or individual systems. Think of them like the Wi-Fi extenders in your house, but in the sky. The Autel EVO Max systems are short-range ISR drones that have a mesh-link program built in, allowing a single operator of 2-4 drones to destroy one ground control station. I have personally used this system to achieve a 15km operating distance with one drone as the asset and another as the repeater.
The BlueBird Promin-13 is a carrier drone for an aerial repeater, creating a stable high-altitude communication node that maintains position without global navigation systems (GNS). It can transmit telemetry and video up to 25 kilometers and stay in the air for up to an hour. The “Vidlunnia” Signal Repeater by Drone Space Labs is a plug-in add-on repeater that enables stable UAV control ranges of up to 20km and doesn’t require an additional operator or drone.
Equipping your formations with communication stabilisers and extensions like these not only increases the likelihood of mission success, but extends the distance your units can safely operate from.
Seize the Means of Repair
Lastly, we need to talk about the right to repair. Too long have we allowed defence contractors to restrict and silo repair to their proprietary facilities. With the speed and depth of warfare on the frontlines, we can no longer afford to be tied to waiting weeks for government contractors to fabricate and ship a nut and bolt set, especially for simple, attritable UAS that should be treated as ammunition rather than assets.
Pushing innovation within formations with 3D fabrication - and partnering with vendors that encourage that - is what is needed to achieve success. There are even some vendors that provide the original .stl or .3mf files for units to print parts that are often damaged or destroyed. One such is the MEGA-CHILE by Hondoq. The MEGA-CHILE is a medium ranged quadcopter that is armed with two 40mm cannons. What sets it apart is that over 50% of all components are 3D printable, with the vendor providing the files to do so.
And it goes beyond simple repair. There have been amazing improvements made to current systems by soldiers tinkering around on their personal 3D printers to fix problems they encounter. Some units have even established innovation labs where they manufacture full FPV drones, only having to purchase battery, motors, and motherboards.
By pushing for the right to repair and build your own systems, at any level, we can influence an organisational shift where defense contractors and vendors are pressured to, even obligated to, make their systems cheaper and field-repairable.
War Never Changes
Drones alone cannot win a war, and support systems are just as important as if not more important than the drones themselves. With governments around the world tripping over themselves to procure the latest shiny new AI-powered, autonomous, attributable UAS, the support infrastructure for all these systems have clearly taken a back seat. The age-old adage “amateurs talk strategy, professionals talk logistics” is something that we would all do well to remember - not just the military, but policy makers and defence startups as well. Napoleon’s army may have marched on its stomach, but a drone army will certainly fly on its support systems.
SFC Luke Sander is an Infantryman in the U.S. Army, stationed in Bavaria. He is a U.S. Army sUAS Master Trainer and has served in armoured/wheeled formations in the U.S. and Europe with multiple combat deployments to the Middle East. He has extensive experience in working with multinational NATO formations.
The views and opinions presented here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army, the U.S. Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.
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