Who Owns the Drones? Why Modernization of Army Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Should Be a Maneuver Responsibility

John Dudas

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At first glance, placing Army modernization of small unmanned aircraft systems—sUAS—under the leadership of the aviation branch seems reasonable. After all, sUAS fly and share battlefield airspace with crewed aircraft, so it is logical for the Army to charge the Aviation Center of Excellence to manage the modernization of all sUAS platforms (including Groups 1 and 2).

But beyond the fact that sUAS, like the crewed aircraft that belong to the aviation branch, fly, there is good reason for the Maneuver Center of Excellence (MCoE) to assume responsibility for the management of modernizing and integrating sUAS, which are inextricably linked to ground maneuver forces’ missions. These systems are fielded and employed almost exclusively at maneuver battalion formations and below, in both conventional and special operations units.