Photo By Capt. Shenicquia Fulton | The 2nd Cavalry Regiment showcases a small reconnaissance drone during Saber Junction...... read more read more
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GRAFENWÖHR, Germany — In a dense forest concealing a mock enemy command post, the familiar dilemma of reconnaissance, risk versus reward, is being rewritten. Here, the scouts of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, are not the first ones to push into the danger zone. Instead, they are extending their reach from a distance, fighting for information on the unmanned edge.
This scene represents V Corps' focus on modernization and experimentation as America’s Forward Deployed Corps. Deliberate effort to increase surveillance capability, helps create a more lethal and deliberate survivable force. The centerpiece of this evolution is the combination of the Project Origin vehicle equipped with the Purpose Built Attritable System-Ground, also known as PBAS-G, a rugged Unmanned Ground Vehicle, also known as UGV, and its airborne counterpart, the Purpose Built Attritable System-Air, also known as PBAS-A, a small Unmanned Aerial System, also known as sUAS.
"Following Army-wide restructuring, the regiment faced a significant capability gap after divesting our legacy UAS and Cavalry Squadron," said Sgt. 1st Class Jesse Styron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment's UAS standardization officer. "Informed by lessons learned from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, we are fielding a mix of multi-role unmanned aerial and ground systems to restore our ability to conduct reconnaissance across broad frontages and at extended distances. By layering these capabilities together, we can make first contact with the enemy while keeping Soldiers out of harm's way."
For a Stryker crew from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment tasked with finding a hidden threat, the process is revolutionary. Instead of nosing their own vehicle forward, they deploy the PBAS-G. The low-profile UGV advances silently, its sensors probing for electronic signatures and signs of activity. When it reaches a point of tactical advantage, a hatch opens, and the PBAS-A drone is launched, taking to the sky. This manned-unmanned teaming gives a single scout crew an unprecedented, layered view of the battlefield. The ground robot provides a close-in perspective while the drone offers a bird's-eye view, a combination that quickly unmasks enemy positions.
“This capability gives the regiment is a true hunter-killer approach to reconnaissance,” said Capt. Michael Garcia, the 2nd Cavalry Regiment’s aviation officer. “With a purpose-built ground system and an aerial system working together, we can detect, identify, and track threats from multiple perspectives. Because these platforms are modular, they can also be adapted to carry different payloads, allowing us not only to confirm enemy positions but, if required, deliver effects. Most importantly, it allows us to gain that understanding of the battlefield without exposing Soldiers to unnecessary risk.”
This capability is more than just new equipment; it is a fundamental shift in tactics that directly enhances V Corps’ readiness. By gaining a decisive information advantage before a conflict begins, commanders are given more options. They can seize the initiative, exploit an enemy’s weakness, and create opportunities to de-escalate a crisis or swiftly gain a significant advantage on the battlefield.
The ability to find and identify high-value targets without a fight forces a potential adversary into a costly dilemma: either stay hidden and be ineffective, or expose themselves to the precise, long-range fires cued by these unmanned systems.
As part of the Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative, the 2nd Cavalry Regiment is turning V Corps' strategic vision for modernization into a tactical reality. They are forging a force that is not just ready for the next conflict but is actively shaping the future of warfare by mastering the unmanned edge.
| Date Taken: | 03.13.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 03.15.2026 17:49 |
| Story ID: | 560523 |
| Location: | FORT KNOX, KENTUCKY, US |
| Web Views: | 128 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, The Unmanned Edge: 2nd Cavalry Regiment Revolutionizes V Corps' Reconnaissance with Unmanned Systems, by SPC Hector Blanco, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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