DoJ/DoW School Teaches about Drone Threats

As drones gain traction within the modern battlefield, the U.S. Department of Defense (aka DoW) recognizes the need to teach its troops how to respond to the emerging threats posed by the latest uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs). By attending the Joint Counter Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems University (JCU, Fort Sill, OK), military students can study the capabilities and technologies of about two dozen of the latest drones. The JCU instructs service members for every branch of the U.S. military on operating advanced drone equipment and developing counter-UAS strategies for efficient and effective defensive responses. 

The school explores 24 types of uncrewed aircraft, including small COTS drones and commercial quadcopters. The drones include the Black Hornet, the R80D SkyRaider, the WingtraOne Gen II, and the Vesper Quadcopter. The Black Hornet, the smallest drone currently used by the JCU, performs covert intelligence and surveillance and can be used inside of building. It features an enhanced thermal camera and is small enough to be carried by service members. The R80D SkyRaider is a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) quadcopter capable of carrying total payloads as large as 7.7 lbs. WingtraOne GenII is one of the fastest mapping and surveillance small fixed-wing drones with multiple cameras and optional light detection and ranging (LiDaR) capabilities to create three-dimensional (3D) models of objects and environments. The Vesper Quadcopter weighs only 2.2 lbs but can travel at 45 mph and 50 minutes of flight time to support its electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) camera.