The US Army will deploy 3D-printed drones in a military exercise in Poland next month to test their ability to detect potential threats beyond soldiers’ capabilities.
Troops from the 2nd Multi-Domain Effects Battalion based in Germany plan to use up to two 3D-printed small drones to look for cell phones, routers, WiFi, radars, and other electromagnetic signatures that cannot be detected with a camera alone.
The drones are equipped with sophisticated sensors to scan the electromagnetic spectrum, mapping out invisible signals and identifying possible sources of hostile activity.
The test will aim to assess how far these drones can identify simulated threats, helping commanders make faster, more informed decisions in complex environments.
“The main way I see adversaries is through their electromagnetic signature,” said Lt. Col. Aaron Ritzema, commander of the 2nd Multi-Domain Effects Battalion. “What I want to do is replicate what one of those adversary capabilities would look like in the spectrum.”
‘A Work in Progress’
The army’s 3D-printed drone effort aims to demonstrate how small, mission-specific drones can be produced at lower cost and with greater flexibility.
Sgt. 1st Class Tyler Baumgartner, who oversees the battalion’s innovation lab, said the team has relied on self-taught skills to fine-tune the quality of the drone prints.
“[When] we stumbled upon an issue, either we sourced to friends and partners for a solution, or we spent a copious amount of hours self-studying to develop a solution on our own,” he told Task & Purpose.
While the drones are now ready for field testing, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Chris Lehr noted that the project remains a “work in progress,” especially after early trials fell short of expectations.
The upcoming exercise in Poland will help determine whether the unit is ready to scale production and field 3D-printed drones as viable tools for electromagnetic threat detection.
