Exclusive: US Army Trains Abrams M1A2 Tank Crews for Coordinated Battlefield Missions with Drones.

During the large-scale Pegasus Forge exercise on August 6, 2025, the US Army tested the direct integration of reconnaissance drones with armored units as part of the Transformation in Contact initiative. Conducted within the 1st Cavalry Division, the exercise aimed to assess under realistic conditions the contribution of unmanned aerial systems to the tactical coordination of tank formations. The event included the launch of a Skydio X2D Multiband drone from a Bradley Fighting Vehicle to guide the movements of M1A2 SEPv3 tanks.
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A 1st Cavalry Division Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 Main Battle Tank and The Skydio X2D during Pegasus Forge (Picture source: US DoD)

The Skydio X2D Multiband, developed in cooperation with US and allied military customers, is designed to operate on multiple frequency bands to reduce the risk of interference, signal loss, or bandwidth saturation. Powered by the Skydio Autonomy Enterprise engine, it offers autonomous navigation, 360° obstacle avoidance, automated target tracking, and the ability to operate in GPS-denied environments. Its dual-sensor payload combines a color camera and an FLIR thermal sensor, enabling day and night reconnaissance missions.

Meeting the requirements of the US Army’s Short-Range Reconnaissance (SRR) program, the X2D is foldable, ruggedized to withstand operational conditions, and manufactured in the United States in compliance with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). An optional Skydio 3D Scan module automates data capture to produce high-resolution, fully covered 3D models. The system has a maximum wireless range of 10 km, an average flight time of 35 minutes, and secures communications through AES-256 encryption.

Integrating drones with armored units provides tactical, operational, and security benefits. For tank crews, a key limitation is reduced visibility from inside the vehicles and the need to identify threats before engaging. A reconnaissance drone addresses this by offering real-time observation beyond the direct line of sight, detecting enemy positions, ambushes, obstacles, or minefields well before armored vehicles approach them. This enhances situational awareness, lowers the risk of surprise, and enables safer and more effective maneuver planning.

Operationally, using drones in support of armored forces improves coordination of fires and movements. The imagery and data collected can be used to direct fire, guide the advance of columns, or identify weak points in enemy defenses. This allows commanders to make faster decisions and adjust more effectively to changes on the battlefield. From a security perspective, drones allow reconnaissance in high-risk areas without exposing crews, preserving personnel while maintaining pressure on the adversary.

Pegasus Forge is a large-scale training event conducted by the 1st Cavalry Division to validate the operational readiness of combat brigades ahead of major deployments, particularly to the National Training Center (NTC). Held at Fort Hood, Texas, it is designed to test maneuver, command, and combined-arms coordination under realistic conditions, including scenarios such as chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) defense, the seizure of strategic objectives, and the execution of offensive and defensive operations. Units operate in austere environments with limited logistical support and deliberately reduced command posts to replicate battlefield constraints.

Over successive editions, Pegasus Forge has evolved into a more intensive format, combining extended field training over several weeks with integration of joint capabilities. In 2020, the 5.5 edition, for example, involved 45 days of field operations and concluded with a live-fire phase that included B-52 bombers from the US Air Force, M270 multiple rocket launchers, and M109 self-propelled howitzers. Exercises of this type strengthen cohesion, leadership, and unit resilience while improving the coordination of fires and maneuvers in complex operational environments.