The U.S. Army will disband an experimental drone battalion in Europe less than a year after its formation, an Army official confirmed Thursday. The unit, assigned in November 2025 to study drone operations including those used by Ukraine, was tasked with feeding lessons back to the Army to support the Pentagon’s push for drone dominance. After participating in the multinational Exercise Saber Junction in August and September, the battalion will revert to its airborne infantry role.
The decision follows Acting Army Chief of Staff Gen. Christopher LaNeve’s strategic roadmap, “The Army Azimuth,” which emphasizes countering enemies using stand-off weapons like unmanned systems. The move aligns with a broader Pentagon effort to expand drone capabilities, including a June 2025 executive order and a July 2025 memorandum from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth calling for improved small-drone fielding.
U.S. Central Command recently announced a new multinational task force using one-way attack drones across air, sea, and underwater domains, building on earlier drone-focused units like Task Force Scorpion Strike in the Middle East.
