The U.S. Army has officially fielded the newest version of its Soldier Borne Sensor reconnaissance drone, earning high praise from Soldiers who trained with it for the first time this month.
The system, developed under Program Executive Office Soldier, is designed to give troops real-time intelligence while keeping them out of direct danger. Officials said the drone provides an extra layer of protection by allowing units to detect threats, conduct surveillance, and target adversaries without exposing personnel to hostile fire.
For three days, Soldiers from the 90th Sustainment Brigade, supported by the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team of the 4th Infantry Division and the 89th Military Police Brigade, trained on the latest drone. Instruction included two days of classroom study and a final day of hands-on flying, less than five miles from the southern border.
The new version, Army trainers said, represents improvements in nearly every category. It offers a longer battery life, more durable construction, and greater range compared to earlier models. Just as importantly, it combines day and night capabilities into a single platform, reducing the weight Soldiers must carry in the field.
Troops who tested the drone highlighted its ease of use.
“It’s super easy to fly,” said Sgt. Quinton Layton. “I didn’t expect it to be as simple as it was. It’s definitely something you can pick up in 15 to 20 minutes.”
Sgt. Steven Brown echoed the sentiment: “On a basis level of being able to get the drone in the air and doing whatever you need to do, it’s very simple and user friendly. It’s a great system that I would love to see implemented more… I would love to see these at a squad level, or one per fire team.”
Soldiers also pointed to specific features that impressed them. Layton cited the “zipline” function, which allows an operator to assign a start and end point and let the drone fly the route autonomously, regardless of how the camera is positioned. Sgt. Mikiah Baker, who had never flown drones before the training, praised its ease of use and camera options. “The most impressive feature I saw was the different camera features,” Baker said. “I could see as clear as day as I can now, but it can also go to different versions of thermal which I found very impressive for how compact the device is.”
The drone’s camera suite includes high-resolution daytime imaging, low-light modes, and multiple thermal settings — black hot, white hot, and standard thermal views. Unlike previous versions, which required two separate drones for day and night missions, this system integrates all modes into one platform.
Staff Sgt. Harris-Sims emphasized the “fly-to-home” feature, which designates the operator as a moving beacon for the drone. “You’re the beacon for the drone. Instead of manually trying to control the drone to follow you, you set yourself as home,” he said. Soldiers reported that the system reliably followed them around the training site without additional inputs.
The Soldier Borne Sensor is part of a broader Army effort to expand small-unit intelligence collection. Modeled on Teledyne FLIR’s Black Hornet, the system is designed to be pocket-sized, nearly silent, and difficult to detect. At 10 meters, the drone produces almost no audible signature, and at 50 meters it is nearly invisible in the sky. Advanced protections against jamming, including frequency hopping and encrypted links, are intended to keep the system reliable in contested environments.
Troops described the technology as a game-changer for operations at home and overseas. “This is probably going to be the greatest asset to both missions at home and abroad,” Harris-Sims said. “Instead of sending the actual Soldier in harm’s way, why not use the asset that doesn’t cost the life of an actual Soldier? I think it’s going to be a really good investment. It’s probably going to be the best investment for units, recon, signal, infantry, land survey… I think this piece of equipment checks all the boxes.”
Program officials stressed that feedback from the first units will drive further refinements. For now, Soldiers who trained at Fort Bliss said the system already feels like a tool designed for them. As Sgt. Layton summarized: “It’s extremely versatile and it’s definitely a great asset to have.”