1st Cavalry Division Receives C-sUAS Equipment

Photo By Spc. Cheyne Hanoski | The 1st Cavalry Division trains with new Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems equipment, Aug. 18, on Fort Cavazos, Texas. The equipment will enable trained Troops to detect, identify, mitigate, and defeat various small UAS groups. (U.S. Army Photo by Spc. Cheyne Hanoski)  

TX, UNITED STATES

08.22.2023

Story by Spc. David Dumas 

1st Cavalry Division

FORT CAVAZOS, Texas - The 1st Cavalry Division is being equipped with handheld/dismounted Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-sUAS) equipment, consisting of the Bal Chatri, Modi Smart Short, and Drone Buster. The equipment will enable trained Troops to detect, identify, mitigate, and defeat various small UAS groups.
Bal Chatri is a detection and Alert device. Modi can operate offensively and defensively to Disrupt and Jam communications. Smart Shooter is a fire control computing device that attaches to the M4/M16 for kinetic defeat, and the Drone Buster is a handheld jamming device.
Currently, we have provided over 80 Soldiers and Leaders across all brigades to facilitate the C-UAS New Equipment Training. Trainees will attend two days of classroom training and one-day range operations with live fire for C-sUAS weapon familiarization.
We are requiring all brigades to send operators to attend additional C-UAS training at home-station through the Emergent Threat Training and Readiness Capability (ET2RC) Team, and conduct C-UAS courses through the Joint C-sUAS University at Fort Sill to enable Commanders to operate C-UAS operations during CPX, CTC Rotations, and In forward deployed environments.
The intent of the C-sUAS is to combat drones, it can defeat the device by disrupting, blocking, or controlling the signal between the UAVs optical, flight control, and ground control station. In addition, some equipment is equipped for kinetic strikes against drones.
In February of 2020, the Secretary of the Army established the Joint Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office (JCO), the department is responsible for doctrine, requirements, training, and provide joint solutions. The Army’s Fires Center of Excellence (FcoE) at Fort Sill recently established the Joint C-sUAS University, it’s courses will provide institutional C-UAS training.
The Army is realigning and establishing Air Defense Artillery Battalions, each with a battery dedicated to C-UAS operations and mission. 1CD has the newly established 6th Battalion, 56th Air Defense Artillery Regiment.
6-56 ADAR will receive the FS-LIDS and M-LIDS; these systems will provide advanced targeting capabilities, technologies that expand the range, enhance the lethality and improve survivability.
Adversaries have developed advanced UAS capabilities while the Army was focused on conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Army and the Joint community are making an extensive effort to get the Warfighter, the knowledge, training, and equipment to enable friendly forces to counter these highly capable threats.
(U.S. Army Story by Chief Warrant Officer 4 Benjamin E. Richards Sr.)

• Date Taken: 08.22.2023
• Date Posted: 08.23.2023 15:05
• Story ID: 451911
• Location: TX, US