The event was led by the 7th Army Training Command (7ATC) and brought together personnel and technology from several units, including the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment of the Tennessee Army National Guard, the 173rd Airborne Brigade, the 18th Military Police Brigade, and DEVCOM. It marked a major step in the integration of advanced drone technologies into conventional Army training and operations.
“This is revolutionary; Soldiers will utilize this capability in the fight beautifully,” said David Oeschger, deputy operations chief for 7ATC. The Audible dropper is capable of pulling the grenade pin mid-flight and releasing it over the target with high precision.
The initial live-fire test was successful, following earlier dry runs using inert and blue-body M69 grenades to validate the system. “Our first test was a success: it was the first live-ordnance drop from a sUAS for the conventional Army,” said Maj. Phillip Draper, brigade aviation officer for the Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine (JMTG-U).
The test was conducted under strict safety protocols approved by the German Ministry of Defense, including Skydio’s internal geo-fencing technology, multiple sUAS safety layers, and signal disruption tools. Bundeswehr representatives observed the test, which was carried out under controlled weather conditions.
“This is just an initial test of one capability, [but] the lessons learned here have a rippling effect for informing global defense and building the Eastern Flank Deterrence Line,” said Brig. Gen. Steven P. Carpenter, commander of 7ATC. He emphasised that Europe offers the best environment for training and modernisation through advanced experimentation.
DEVCOM is already using the results to improve future versions of the Audible system, which may be used in live-fire training across U.S. Army Europe and Africa and U.S. Forces Command. “Hopefully we can build on this and make it better, and get those results to the warfighter,” Draper added.
Later on the same day, the 173rd Airborne Brigade tested a second live grenade drop using a modified internally developed dropper with support from DEVCOM. The broader goal is to eventually enable Soldiers to 3D-print these systems in the field, enhancing close-air support at the company and platoon level.
