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Gen. Christopher LaNeve directs the 173rd Airborne Brigade's drone battalion to return to traditional infantry duties

The U.S. Army is phasing out a specialized drone battalion within the 173rd Airborne Brigade, returning the unit to its core mission as an airborne infantry battalion. Gen. Christopher LaNeve, the acting chief of staff of the Army, issued the order following a year of experimentation with unmanned warfare tactics pioneered by Ukraine. While the unit was tasked with learning from Ukrainian drone tactics and providing feedback to the Army, the decision to refocus on traditional infantry comes amid internal tensions between LaNeve and the senior officers who championed the unit. The move aligns with LaNeve's strategic roadmap, "The Army Azimuth," which emphasizes a strong grounding in the fundamentals of soldiering and warrior ethos. The battalion will complete two major exercises in Germany this month and next to deliver its findings on drone warfare to the Army. Following these exercises, the unit will refocus on its core warfighting tasks as an airborne infantry battalion, ensuring that soldiers maintain a strong grounding in individual readiness and small unit tactical skills.

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