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Project Fly Trap
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INNOVATION
Innovation in Europe and Africa
Testing counter-unmanned aerial systems technologies during Project Flytrap
Testing drone during Project Flytrap
Working together during Project Flytrap
Test flying drone during Project Flytrap
Soldiers Experiment with High Altitude Balloons
Soldiers Experiment with High Altitude Balloons during Arcane Thunder
Preparing to launch the High Altitude Balloon
Preparing to launch the High Altitude Balloon
Making last minute checks before launching
Preparing to launch the High Altitude Balloon
Checks before launching the High Altitude Balloon
Soldiers Experiment with High Altitude Balloons during Arcane Thunder
Soldiers Experiment with High Altitude Balloons
2nd Multi Domain Task Force Experiment with High Altitude Balloons
173rd Airborne Brigade tests drones for blood supply and material transport
Supervising detonation of a live First Person View
Preparing to operate and detonate a live First Person View
Preparing to operate a live First Person View Drone
173rd Airborne Brigade Builds Internal FPV Drone Lab to Boost Tactical Edge, Cut Costs
Drone Lab to Boost Tactical Edge
Drone Lab
173rd Airborne Brigade Builds Internal FPV Drone Lab
3rd Infantry Division Soldiers operate counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems during Combined Resolve
Connecting tablet to Drone Detector
Working the Drone Detector through tablet
Europe Africa Innovation Videos
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Fully-loaded C-17 uses compacted deep-snow airfield built by Corps of Engineers R&D
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center
April 28, 2018 | 9:11
PHOENIX AIRFIELD, Antarctica (Nov. 15, 2016) -- A McChord Air Force Base C-17 Globemaster III crew and the Army Corps of Engineers teamed up to make the first landing and takeoff of a wheeled and fully-loaded cargo aircraft on a compacted-snow runway an otherwise routine event.
A collaboration between the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center's Cold Regions Lab and the National Science Foundation's Office of Polar Programs, the surface design required the development of unique certification standards and was engineered to provide a reliable wheeled-runway solution to replace Antarctica's Pegasus Ice runway.
“This novel runway design and construction took more than 16 continuous months to complete,” said Terry Melendy, a CRREL research civil engineer. “The runway was designed using a compaction technique to modify the deep snow using heavy rollers weighing up to 160,000 pounds, to change the snow’s strength properties from its natural state creating a denser, higher strength snow foundation (32 inches deep) that can withstand the impact of a C-17 landing. And, in this particular case, the Phoenix was designed to withstand approximately 60 wheeled flights a year.”
Throughout design and construction, the team maintained close liaison with NSF and Air Mobility Command standards and evaluation personnel and with the Air Force’s Antarctic C-17 flight group.
“The runway was certified in the field for heavy, wheeled aircraft by the Air Mobility Command,” said Melendy. “With the successful completion of the Phoenix runway, we have done something that no one else has done.”
ERDCinfo@usace.army.mil
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Latest News On Innovation in Europe and Africa
173rd Airborne Brigade Trains Drone Operators at Grafenwoehr
May 14, 2025
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In a world where paratroopers fall from the sky, one platoon is flipping the script. Forget parachutes. This time, they're learning to fly a little differently.
Led by Chief Andrew Topits, a UAS instructor with 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment (Airborne) , who’s leading the charge—one rotor at a time—throughout the year at Grafenwoehr Training Area. His mission? To make sure Sky Soldiers across every rank know how to operate Unmanned Aerial Systems, or UAS. Yes, that’s Army-speak for “drones.”
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May 1, 2025
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U.S Army Sgt. Jacob Fritz, lead manufacturer, 2nd Multi-Domain Effects Battalion, explains his tasks and leadership position in 2MEB's innovation lab, Apr. 2, 2024, on Mainz Kastel TMP Station in Wiesbaden, Germany. The innovation lab was created to find cost-effective and beneficial ways to revolutionize warfighting with techniques such as 3-D printing and soldering.
3ID Drone Validation: CW3 Mesa on Eyes Above the Fight
May 6, 2025
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U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 David Mesa, 3rd Infantry Division, discusses unmanned aerial systems drone validation during Combined Resolve at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center on Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, May 5, 2025. Combined Resolve is part of the Army’s “Transforming in Contact” initiative, which assesses the effectiveness of electronic warfare and counter-unmanned aerial systems, as well as how force structure changes and current tactics align with emerging technologies.
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Wiesbaden Drone Pilot Learns to Fly
May 1, 2025
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U.S. Army Lt. Col. Aaron Ritzema, commander, 2nd Multi-Domain Effects Battalion, 2n Multi-Domain Taskforce, and Spc. Samantha Zaldivar, an unmanned aerial vehicle operator with the Extended Range Sensing and Effects Company of the 2nd MDEB, begin preparations and training for Arcane Thunder 25 on Mainz Kastel Station, Germany, April 15, 2025. The battalion innovation lab added a virtual drone flight simulation to the established mission command software to streamline the reconnaissance process.
Transforming in Contact during Exercise Combined Resolve
Feb. 7, 2025
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Col. Joshua Glonek, 3rd Brigade 10th Mountain Division Brigade commander discusses how the U.S. Army's Transforming in Contact initiative is shaping how his unit trains and may influence the future of army training during Combined Resolve 25-1, at Hohenfels Training Area, Feb. 1, 2025. During CbR 25-1, TiC utilizes new technologies and systems designed to enhance its warfighting readiness and ability to respond to crisis or conflict.
Next Generation Tactical Vehicle-Hybrid during Combined Resolve
Jan. 22, 2025
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U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Nicholas Chavez, an air traffic control specialist assigned to 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, describes the features and capabilities of the Amy's new Next Generation Tactical Vehicle-Hybrid prototype during Combined Resolve 25-01 at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Hohenfels Training Area, Hohenfels, Germany, Jan. 14, 2025. The Next Generation Tactical Vehicle-Hybrid (NGTV-H) is a diesel-electric light reconnaissance vehicle. During Combined Resolve 25-1, the U.S. Army is implementing its Transforming in Contact initiative, utilizing new technologies and systems designed to enhance its warfighting readiness and ability to respond to crisis or conflict.
173rd Airborne Brigade hosts inaugural Innovation Symposium
April 1, 2025
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1:00
U.S. Army 1st Lt. Francesco La Torre and U.S. Army Warrant Officer Justin Love discuss the 173rd Airborne Brigade's inaugural Innovation Symposium, held March 26-27, 2025 in Vicenza, Italy. The symposium showcased how the 173rd Airborne Brigade supports innovation by enabling bottom-up problem-solving improving warfighter readiness and deploy technology to increase warfighting lethality.
Soldiers demonstrate counter-drone tech in Germany
The U.S. Army showcased several sophisticated systems Soldiers operate to detect and respond to unknown, potentially hostile drones during a demonstration at Joint Multinational Training Center in Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, March 25, 2025.
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Soldiers live fire FPV drones in Germany
Soldiers conducted a live fire of first-person view drones for the first time at the Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, Feb. 17-20, 2025. Although drones have been incorporated into training for years, this event combined FPV drones with live munitions in a series of live fire flights, all within range safety standards. The success is a result of collaboration between U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, 7th Army Training Command, Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine and the 173rd Airborne Brigade.
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Drone Training
March 13, 2025
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1:27
Ssg. Gary E. Bowers, assigned to the 173rd Brigade Support Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade, describes the multiple uses of the Flying Basket drone at Gasinci training area, Croatia, Mar. 11, 2025.
Wiesbaden Soldiers create solutions in Innovation Lab
April 22, 2025
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U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christian Lehr and Sgt. 1st Class Tyler Baumgartner, the officer and noncommissioned officer in charge of the Innovation Lab of the 2nd Multi-Domain Effects Battalion, 2nd Multi-Domain Task Force, spearhead technological advancement on Mainz Kastel Station, Germany, April 7, 2025. The innovation lab creates quick solutions to fill gaps in support during military operations. The innovation lab provides real-time, cost-saving solutions to the Army to increase its capabilities.
Army Drone Innovation Lab represents new model for battlefield adaptation
April 14, 2025
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U.S. Army Capt. Ronan Sefton, an intelligence officer assigned to 2nd Cavalry Regiment, explaining the creation of 2CR's drone innovation lab and its transformative capabilities and implications for the future of U.S. Army warfare during an interview at Balli Airfield UAS Facility, Vilseck, Germany, April 7, 2025. 2CR's Small Unmanned Aerial Systems Program involves the design, 3D printing, assembling, and testing of custom-built drones, all done exclusively by 2CR Soldiers. This enables the regiment to rapidly respond to changing battlefield conditions and quickly overcome environmental challenges.
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