US Army Green Berets have successfully tested autonomous glider drones capable of evading enemy electronic surveillance during Trojan Footprint, a major NATO military exercise held this month in Romania and Macedonia. The drones, designed to glide silently to GPS coordinates with minimal electronic signatures, aim to address the growing challenge of resupplying troops in contested environments without revealing their positions.
Stealth in the Electromagnetic Spectrum
The Grasshopper glider drone, manufactured by Dzyne, requires limited electronic activity, allowing it to remain undetected within the electromagnetic spectrum. This innovation is critical as modern troops face heightened vulnerability from emissions generated by radios, phones, and command systems. During the exercise, Romanian aircraft released two Grasshopper drones loaded with construction materials, food, and medical supplies to support Green Berets on the ground.
Digital stealth is now an absolute requirement for survival on modern battlefields, demanding that troops and equipment operate without any detectable signature.
Resupply in Denied Environments
The Grasshopper can carry up to 500 pounds of cargo and land within 10 meters of its target, deploying a parachute for a controlled impact. It is particularly useful in areas where traditional resupply methods—such as roads, rivers, or aircraft landings—are unavailable. Released from altitudes as high as 25,000 feet, the drones can remain airborne for hours, delivering supplies to multiple teams across vast distances.
This effort reflects a broader shift within the US military to reduce dependence on digital systems, which became a hallmark of the Global War on Terror. Troops are increasingly reverting to traditional tools like paper maps and compasses, while exploring new technologies like glider drones to ensure operational success in hyper-contested environments. However, the effectiveness of these drones in adverse weather conditions and at scale remains to be fully evaluated.