The U.S. Army recently held its inaugural Best Drone Warfighter Competition, which brought together active duty, National Guard, and reserve units to compete for Best Operator, Best Tactical Squad, and Best Innovation.
The competition was hosted by the Army Aviation Center of Excellence and the Maneuver Center of Excellence in Huntsville, Ala. Sponsored by the Army Aviation Association of America, the three-day event brought in more than 200 competitors and 800 attendees observed the event.
“This competition highlights not only the Army’s focus on drone dominance, but also the unique capabilities we have built here in Huntsville,” said Taylor Abington, deputy director of UAH’s Rotorcraft Systems Engineering and Simulation Center. “Our test range provides the secure airspace, technical infrastructure and operational flexibility required to execute complex events like this, while also supporting year-round research and development for our partners.”
Participants competed in three distinct challenges designed to test speed, precision, teamwork and creativity in small‑UAS employment: a high‑speed drone race, a tactical squad lane and an innovation showcase, highlighting the Army’s commitment to integrating advanced unmanned aerial systems at every echelon of the force, according to the U.S. Army.
Competitors all raced Neros Archer First Person View drones through a complex obstacle course.
Their goal was to execute cross‑country hunter‑killer missions in paired teams to identify and neutralize targets and showcased soldier‑designed technologies in front of a panel of experts aimed at improving survivability, lethality and battlefield adaptability.
According to the University of Alabama in Huntsville, the three challenges specifically included:
•Best Operator Lane – A head-to-head first-person-view drone race using identical National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)-compliant systems, testing precision maneuvering over a timed obstacle course.
•Best Tactical Hunter-Killer Team Lane – Two-soldier teams conducted mission planning, completed a physically demanding ruck march and executed reconnaissance and simulated strike missions using backpack-portable drones.
•Best Innovation Lane – Teams presented soldier-designed drone technologies in a “Shark Tank”-style pitch before demonstrating their capabilities in flight.
Sgt. Javon Purcher of the 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas, won Best Drone Operator. Purcher, 22, first started flying drones as a hobby before it became a part of his career.
Staff Sgt. Angel Caliz and Spc. Jonah Burks of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany, won Best Tactical Squad and 1st Lt. Ryan Giallonardo, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Reed, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Nathan Shea and Sgt. 1st Class Brent Wehr of the 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania Army National Guard won Best Innovation.
The 28th Infantry Division was the only Army National Guard unit to compete in all three events.
“This is a great achievement for the team and the UAS facility as well as the Pennsylvania National Guard as a whole,” said Reed, the 28th Infantry Division team captain. “Competing against the entire Army, putting in the work and coming out on top really speaks volumes to what the team has been doing and the hard work they’ve been putting in, and it highlights the Pennsylvania National Guard and what we’re able to accomplish.”