173rd Integrates Quadcopter UAVs Into Recon Capabilities

Photo By Spc. Ryan Lucas | U.S. Army paratroopers within the 173rd Airborne Brigade operate the newest addition in surveillance equipment to the brigade while attending training on the Instant Eye in Poček Training Area, Slovenia, March 4, 2020. The Instant Eye is a Small Unmanned Aerial System that can be deployed within five minutes and serves as an additional sensor within a commander’s repertoire. The 173rd Airborne Brigade is the U.S. Army’s Contingency Response Force in Europe, providing rapidly deployable forces to Europe, Africa and Central Commands areas of responsibilities. Forward deployed across Italy and Germany, the brigade routinely trains alongside NATO allies to build partnerships and strengthen the alliance. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ryan Lucas)  

SLOVENIA

03.11.2020

Story by Spc. Ryan Lucas 

173rd Airborne Brigade

Poček Training Area, SLOVENIA — The 173rd Airborne Brigade recently trained paratroopers here how to employ the brigade’s newest warfighting technology, a small unmanned aircraft system (SUAS) called the Instant Eye which provides modern, advanced aerial reconnaissance capabilities to small combat units.

The Instant Eye is a quadcopter, or quadrotor helicopter, that can be deployed within five minutes, controlled and landed by one operator, and used in inclement weather, making it more versatile than some of the systems currently employed within the brigade.

“[The Instant Eye is] an additional… sensor that commanders have in their repertoire at the company level,” said Cpt. James Link, the Brigade Air Officer. "It was originally off the shelf technology, then adapted to U.S. Special Operations and… filtered across the Army.”

The only airborne brigade combat team in Europe, the 173rd is the U.S. Army’s Contingency Response Force in the region, providing rapidly deployable forces to Europe, Africa and Central Commands areas of responsibilities.

The Instant Eye is the brigade’s first unmanned aerial vehicle that can be jumped into a training or mission environment, easily packed in a paratrooper’s rucksack.

Enhancing the ability to quickly gather information, SUAS like the Instant Eye increases the lethality of the soldier, a key component of the Army’s force modernization objectives.

“You have a single point launch and collection," said Link, as opposed to other systems which you have to throw. By not requiring an open field, the Instant Eye provides the warfighter the ability to launch the system in urban environments and offers platoon leaders the capability of gathering greater situational awareness prior to and during operations. 

The Instant Eye does not replace any current unmanned aircraft system within the brigade, but supplements the existing technology and expands the capabilities of UAS Operators. 

As one of several SUAS Master Trainers in the brigade, Staff Sgt. Gerald Amos’ job is to teach SUAS Operators to use the Instant Eye.

“This training is conducted within three days, one day of academics and two days worth of flying,” said Staff Sgt. Amos.

After completing the class, the paratroopers who took part in the training are now certified operators of the Instant Eye. Although there is currently only one system per infantry company, there will soon be more distributed across the entire brigade, with the goal of having every UAS Operator certified to fly the Instant Eye. 

• Date Taken: 03.11.2020
• Date Posted: 03.13.2020 02:15
• Story ID: 365023
• Location: SI