Top Drone: British Army Seeks Potential Pilots

The British Army wants to know which of its recruits would make the best pilots for unmanned attack drones.

As per a press statement this week, the force has been hunting for suitable candidates for its jHub Drone Academy, a part of Strategic Command seeking to enhance the military’s capabilities via new technology.

Specifically, it's been screening soldiers to see which of them have the most aptitude for First Person View (FPV) Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS). The so-called "kamikaze drones" have proved an invaluable weapon for Ukrainian forces in their ongoing struggle to repel the Russian invasion.

Flown via a Virtual Reality (VR) headset, the drones can carry small explosive devices and can destroy targets by being flown inside vehicles and detonating within them.

As outlined in the Army statement, 16 Air Assault Brigade recently ran a screening session at Colchester’s Merville Barracks to find soldiers among its existing UAS pilots with the aptitude to join the jHub Drone Academy and develop their skills.

“An infantry unit equipped with FPV UAS can fly them to attack targets that it would otherwise have to call in mortars, artillery, or an air strike to hit," explained senior UAS operator Sergeant Adam Barnes of 2 PARA. “It shortens the kill chain and gives a commander more options, making for a more efficient use of resources.”

At present British infantry units use the Parrot and Black Hornet UAS for reconnaissance, with soldiers completing a three-week course to qualify as pilots. FPV drones are harder to fly as they don't use stabilization software or GPS, but this makes them less vulnerable to jamming.

FPV UAS have their origins in the modern sport of drone racing; the training — delivered by commercial partner Point Zenith — provides soldiers with an FPV UAS and obstacles for flying practice along with a laptop computer loaded with a sophisticated racing simulator.

• You can read more details on the British Army website