TULLAHOMA, Tenn. – Soldiers assigned to the Tennessee Army National Guard's 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment completed New Equipment Training on the Skydio X10D small unmanned aircraft system at Volunteer Training Site-Tullahoma, June 16-17, as the brigade continues its transition to a Mobile Brigade Combat Team.
The two-day course provided Soldiers with initial operator training on one of the Army's newest small unmanned aircraft systems, introducing the aircraft's capabilities through classroom instruction and hands-on flight operations.
Training covered aircraft components, mission planning, flight operations, battery management, emergency procedures, and autonomous flight functions. Soldiers also operated the X10D's high-resolution electro-optical and thermal imaging sensors, learning how the system can support reconnaissance by identifying personnel, vehicles, and other heat signatures in varying environmental conditions.
Practical flight demonstrations introduced Soldiers to the aircraft's autonomous capabilities, including obstacle avoidance and object tracking. During training scenarios, the aircraft navigated around terrain and structures while maintaining its flight path and tracked moving personnel and vehicles with limited operator input.
The X10D provides small units with an organic reconnaissance capability that can be assembled, launched, and recovered by a single operator in minutes. The approximately five-pound aircraft expands commanders' ability to rapidly collect information and increase situational awareness without employing larger unmanned aircraft systems.
"Being able to look beyond the line rather than having to send someone actually out there, this aircraft is a huge asset," said Staff Sgt. Anthony McAlister, a reconnaissance noncommissioned officer assigned to the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment. "Whether it's identifying something or gathering information through reconnaissance, it's going to help us in the future."
The training supports the 278th's ongoing conversion to a Mobile Brigade Combat Team, an enhanced Infantry Brigade Combat Team designed to increase mobility while integrating emerging technologies and modernized equipment.
As one of the first Army National Guard brigades selected for conversion, the 278th is fielding new capabilities that include the Infantry Squad Vehicle, small unmanned aircraft systems, extended-range precision fires, and electronic warfare systems.
"Our Soldiers are at the cutting edge of evolving warfare technology," said Brig. Gen. Steven Turner, Tennessee's assistant adjutant general-Army. "We are more flexible and ever evolving to maintain our combat prowess."
The Tennessee Army National Guard continues to modernize its formations through the fielding of new equipment, realistic training, and leader development to prepare Soldiers for future operational environments.
"This isn't just about learning to fly a drone," said McAlister. "It's about giving Soldiers another tool to gather information quickly and help leaders make better decisions. That's where the Army is headed, and this training is getting us there."
-30-