Deep in the Louisiana hinterland, an experimental unit of 101st Airborne soldiers sets out with the latest technology.
Sergeant First Class Anthony Clark says his unit is exploring a new way to fight, including surveillance and attack drones, decoys and jammers controlled by laptops or a cell phone app.
“Were [here] to create those tactics, it’s us [here] to create those standard operating procedures so that the next generation of Soldiers understands our mistakes and can be even more effective with the systems,” Clark said.
Some innovations come from lessons learned directly from the battlefields of Ukraine, where electronic warfare on both sides of the battle is increasing by the minute.
Now the 101st’s vehicle looks like something out of “Mad Max.”
“Even in World War II, they used brand new equipment and brand new methods and they were extremely successful and learned from their mistakes,” Clark said.
The 101st Airborne Division saw action during World War II. The Screaming Eagles were among the first Americans to descend on France on D-Day.
Again, everything changes.
The command post – well hidden among the trees – is minuscule. It’s a fraction of the size that Major General Brett Sylvia commanded a decade ago.
“My command post consisted of ten different tents, forty different vehicles, all kinds of huge radars and antennas that were everywhere. It was easy to see and therefore easy to kill,” Sylvia said.
In today’s world, the art of deception goes beyond face painting and camouflage. Fiber optic cables are run to antennas hundreds of feet away from the command center and then distributed decoys: ready-made circuit boards that look like laptops and cell phones.
“The other day the enemy was completely misled by that and put an artillery fire on just a bunch of decoys that were in a field, and then this command post remained safe and sound,” Sylvia said.
It’s not like hiding a needle in a haystack, but “hiding a needle in a pile of needles,” Sylvia said.
They are also experimenting with robotic vehicles, currently piloted by Lieutenant Parker Mitchell.
“There’s no reason to trade blood for blood when we can trade blood for steel,” Mitchell said.
Deploying that steel on future battlefields will not be without challenges and rewards, said specialist William Bateman.
“I mean, it gives me chills to think that right now we’re in the middle of shaping the future and participating in making history. It’s absolutely mind-blowing,” Bateman said.
Now a new generation is putting innovation to the test on the battlefields of the future.
Charlie D’Agata
