U.S. Army Garrison (USAG) Rheinland-Pfalz conducted a joint C-UAS exercise on July 16 near Miesau, Germany. The operation brought together 미 육군, 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.
