US To Test New Counter-UAS Program At Bagram Airfield In Afghanistan

Researchers from US Defence Department are planning to test new ways to counter the probable drone threats in future due to rising unmanned aircraft systems around the world, at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.

The Air Force's 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron here teamed up with a researcher from the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) to teach airmen how to pilot drones and use them to train coalition forces on how to react to them on the battlefield, the US Air Force announced last week.

"This is a brand-new program for the wing, where we are able to test our counter-UAS systems coming into [Bagram Airfield], in addition to running base-wide exercises," said Air Force 1st Lieutenant Ryan Wilkerson, a researcher attached to the 455th ESFS.

Wilkerson is deployed out of the AFRL, Rome Research Site, New York, and came here, where the challenge is present in real-world scenarios, to test the program.

A few airmen assisted Wilkerson by serving as drone pilots and using their own down time to practice piloting and learn tactics the enemy may use.

Air Force Senior Airman Christopher Gallman, with the 455th ESFS joint defense operations center said, "The best way to train is to actually put something in the air and see how people react. We train how we fight, so this is the most efficient way to counter this growing concern amongst coalition partners." Gallman added.

Tactics used by the enemy are constantly evolving, which is why airmen are constantly adapting to face news threats head-on, ready to engage anything that comes their way.