The British Army is training its military to operate FPV drones at the Army’s Combat Manoeuvre Centre.

British media reported on this.

In a recent exercise at Fingeringhoe Ranges, British Army soldiers have been honing their drone piloting skills, focusing on the use of advanced First Person View (FPV) Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) as part of a push towards new tactics. They explored the potential of drones on the battlefield and practiced their use in various combat scenarios.

“An infantry unit equipped with FPV UAS can fly them to attack targets that it would otherwise have to call in mortars, artillery, or an air strike to hit,” Sergeant Adam Barnes from 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (2 PARA) explained.

At the same time, the military noted difficulties in mastering the new technology. In particular Lance Corporal Morgan McConnell from 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment said that FPV control was much more difficult than British Parrot reconnaissance drones.

“It’s been a different skill to develop. The Parrot has basically got an autopilot and you can be reasonably confident at flying it within a few hours. FPV takes a lot more effort and skill because you’ve got total control of it, and it’s going to take time to get to the stage of flying it instinctively. I’m looking forward to the challenge and it’s interesting to be working on a technology that is developing, particularly when it gets to adding munitions into what we’re doing,” McConnell noted.

As part of Project Lewes – the Army’s wide-ranging work to integrate new technologies and capabilities into its existing forces to improve lethality – troops are being trained to fly FPV UAS as use of the technology is developed.

To operate drones, including the new FPV drones for the UK, the military undergoes a three-week training course at the jHub Drone Academy.

It is also worth noting that in addition to preparing for the use of attack drones, the British military is also practicing appropriate methods of protecting and countering drones.

In particular, the soldiers of the 13th Air Assault Support Regiment practiced targeting and intercepting drones using assault rifles equipped with SmartShooter SMASH sights.

The SmartShooter system can identify a target, track its movement, and keep it on target, even when the target or soldier is moving. It is capable of capturing and tracking targets such as UAVs and manpower at distances of up to 250 meters.

The sight, equipped with a target acquisition system and a ballistic calculator, independently determines the aiming point for a moving object, taking into account the direction and speed of movement, as well as the ballistics of the weapon.