War on the Rocks

How the Army Wants to Counter Drones

10 snips
Oct 28, 2025
In this insightful discussion, Alex Miller, the Chief Technology Officer of the U.S. Army, delves into the Army's strategies for countering drones. He shares lessons learned from countering improvised explosive devices and the emerging threats observed on the southern border. Alex emphasizes the need for better industry collaboration and adaptation to rapidly evolving technologies. Additionally, he highlights the challenges of outdated systems and how the Army is shifting its focus to more effective solutions for detecting and defeating small drones.
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ANECDOTE

Field Work Landed The CTO Role

  • Alex Miller described being discovered at NTC and invited to work for senior leaders after bluntly briefing problems.
  • That field exposure and willingness to get dirty led directly to his CTO role.
INSIGHT

Drones Are The New Mobile IEDs

  • Drones now behave like high-speed IEDs that seek out and attack moving forces.
  • Effective counter-UAS requires sensing, automated decisioning, and rapid action to protect units on the move.
INSIGHT

Airspace Management Is The Hard Part

  • High UAS density creates a hard airspace-management problem; Ukraine loses many assets to fratricide.
  • Counter-UAS must include tools and TTPs to avoid shooting friendly or non-threats amid many contacts.
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