Photo By Sgt. Jose Lora | U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade, change the batteries of...... read more read more
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In a combat zone, every second counts—and every drop of blood can save a life. That’s why U.S. Army paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade are testing a new method to get blood to the battlefield faster and safer: drones.
During Swift Response 2025, a multinational exercise under the larger DEFENDER 25 series, the 173rd’s Charlie “Lifeline” Company, 173rd Brigade Support Battalion, integrated drone-based blood resupply into a full-scale Hospital Exercise (HOSPEX) at Pabrade Training Area, Lithuania, May 15, 2025.
“Aerial resupply of blood is pretty cool for us,” said Capt. Jessica Knoll, commander of Charlie Company. “One big initiative we’re working on is getting whole blood as far forward as possible. Having drone capability means we’re not risking soldiers driving into hostile areas just to deliver blood. A drone—not to say it’s expendable—but it’s more expendable than a soldier’s life.”
The TRV-150 drone was used to deliver simulated blood to Role 1 field care locations, bridging the gap between point of injury and higher-level medical care. This innovation reduces risk to medics while improving survivability in austere environments.
“This is our third time working with Flying Basket to drop blood using drones,” Knoll said. “We’ve tested a few methods—paratroopers jumping with blood at Saber Junction, pushing blood out of airplanes—but this drone delivery is really buying down risk. Instead of sending an entire medic crew forward, we can now send a drone with Class VIII supplies or blood.”
The exercise included U.S. Army units such as the 160th Forward Resuscitative Surgical Detachment (FRSD), 519th Field Hospital, 68th Theater Medical Command, and the 7384th Blood Detachment. NATO Role 2 Enhanced medical teams and Lithuanian Armed Forces medics joined in trauma lanes and mass casualty drills, enhancing multinational medical interoperability.
“So far, we’ve flown about 3 kilometers with the drone, but it’s capable of more,” Knoll added. “That’s just what we’ve trained for now.”
Knoll emphasized the importance of preparing for large-scale combat operations (LSCO), where forward medical capabilities are crucial.
“It’s about saving lives, reducing risk, and making sure our warfighters stay in the fight,” Knoll said.
The 173rd Airborne Brigade is the U.S. Army's Contingency Response Force in Europe, providing rapidly deployable forces to the United States European, African, and Central Command areas of responsibility. Forward deployed across Italy and Germany, the brigade routinely trains alongside NATO allies and partners to build partnerships and strengthen the alliance.
(U.S. Army photos by Sgt. Jose Lora)
| Date Taken: | 05.15.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 05.15.2025 09:05 |
| Story ID: | 498036 |
| Location: | LT |
| Web Views: | 32 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Swift Response 2025: 173rd Airborne Brigade uses drones to cut risk in blood resupply missions, by CPT Jennifer French, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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