Performance Drone Works (PDW) details how operators across the U.S. military and allied partner forces have employed the C100 small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) during field training, coalition exercises, and live-fire demonstrations. Read more >>
Recent activity has included Soldiers assigned to the U.S. Army’s 120th Infantry Regiment training with the C100 at Fort Bliss, reinforcing the role of small unmanned aircraft systems at the tactical edge. The hands-on training supported the development of sUAS proficiency as units continue integrating unmanned aircraft into everyday operations, helping operators prepare to deploy rapidly and adapt to changing mission requirements while helping ensure reconnaissance and airborne capabilities are available under realistic field conditions.
Photos by Pfc. Peter Bannister (DVIDS)
The C100 has also been employed during multinational training focused on interoperability, situational awareness, and operational readiness. During recent joint exercises, U.S. and Philippine forces used the system to help operators collect, share, and act on critical information across multinational formations.
At FLEETEX 250 at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment demonstrated the C100 to Spanish Marines as part of a company-level live-fire range. The event highlighted how a common unmanned platform can support reconnaissance, situational awareness, and tactical decision-making while helping coalition partners share information and build the proficiency needed to operate together.
Mission flexibility was further demonstrated during a live-fire event involving the U.S. Army’s 25th Infantry Division in Hawai’i. During the demonstration, the C100 transported a substantial payload, demonstrating the platform’s “mothership” capability, while the way operators configured the system reinforced flexibility as a core principle of the platform’s design. Designed for durability and adaptability, the system enables units to integrate new payloads and capabilities without sacrificing the reliability required in demanding field conditions. Operators continue to identify new ways to employ the C100 as mission requirements evolve.
At Fort Campbell, Soldiers with the 101st Airborne Division demonstrated a C100 equipped with a Mechanical Release Device (MRD) during live-fire training to evaluate sUAS-enabled munition delivery. The demonstration highlighted how sUAS can provide greater standoff distance, flexibility, and precision while reducing the time between target identification and engagement. Beyond munitions, the MRD supports mission-specific payloads including medical supplies and lifesaving equipment, giving operators flexibility to deliver critical capabilities where they are needed.
Across these training events and demonstrations, operators continue to expand the ways unmanned systems support the mission, contributing to greater situational awareness, increased operational flexibility, and decisive capability at the tactical edge.
Read ‘In the Field: Operators Advance Mission Readiness with PDW’ for more information.
