Bloomberg reported on November 21 that more than 500 Chinese drones, seized by Florida authorities under a controversial decree, will be part of the largest anti-drone exercises in the state. The drones were initially sent to an incinerator but were saved thanks to a military initiative. Small drones will be transferred to the US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) in Florida, where they will be used to fire shotguns during three-day competitions next month. The exercise aims to train the US military on how to resist UAVs.
Nate Ekelbarger, a Marine Corps reservist and founder of the non-profit organization National Association of Drones of the United States (USNDA), stated that these exercises will be the largest in the country for combating drones. He noted that if shotguns prove effective, new units of the US Armed Forces will have to train regularly with their use.
Additionally, the US Army plans to purchase at least 1 million drones in the next two to three years, with potential annual purchases ranging from 500 thousand to 1 million drones. According to US Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll, there are current challenges with drones in the US Army. The report also highlighted that geostationary satellites will help drones master long-range routes, enabling the delivery of goods to remote areas using drones.
