U.S. Army Garrison (USAG) Rheinland-Pfalz conducted a joint C-UAS exercise on July 16 near Miesau, Germany. The operation brought together U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, and German Polizei units to test their ability to detect and respond to unmanned aircraft system (UAS) threats in a real-world scenario.
The C-UAS exercise featured a DJI Phantom 4 flown by operators from the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa’s Combat Training School. The drone simulated a hostile incursion, allowing teams to practice detection, signal disruption, and coordinated response procedures using current counter-UAS technologies.
“The DJI Phantom 4 is a commercially-available small UAS, making it ideal for this type of training,” said Emily Roemer, antiterrorism officer with USAG Rheinland-Pfalz Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security.
Air Force personnel deployed signal disruptors and hijackers to neutralize the simulated threat. “This exercise showed the importance of a joint force working together to combat small UAS threats. Our procedures are sound,” said Staff Sgt. Michael Sopha, noncommissioned officer in charge of C-UAS for the 569th U.S. Forces Police Squadron.
German Polizei officers were fully integrated into the drone exercise, reflecting the importance of host nation cooperation. “Host nation response during a real-world event is critical. The Army likes to train how we fight, so we knew getting host nation participation for this exercise was a must,” Roemer added.
USAG Rheinland-Pfalz police chief DJ Diallo emphasized the need for international coordination: “The lines between civilian and military airspace are increasingly blurred, demanding seamless information sharing and coordinated responses. Without robust international cooperation between Polizei and USAG Rheinland-Pfalz DES, we risk critical gaps in our ability to detect, deter, and respond to drone-related threats.”
The exercise is part of the Army Transformation Initiative, the U.S. Army initiative to invest in technologies including artificial intelligence, autonomy and counter-drone systems to outpace future threats.
The garrison plans to continue joint training events to improve readiness, enhance interoperability, and strengthen multinational partnerships in C-UAS operations.
