According to US media reports, the US Army is purchasing hundreds of small unmanned aerial vehicles as the latest essential combat weapon for infantry. This means that the US Army's Future Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems (FTUAS) project is accelerating and will have a profound impact on the evolution of future forms of warfare. The deployment of US Army unmanned aerial vehicles can be divided into three levels: battalion and below, brigade, and division and above, corresponding to small, medium, and large unmanned aerial vehicles in terms of body size. Among them, the RQ-7 unmanned aerial vehicle deployed in brigade level combat units has served as the main force of the US Army's unmanned aerial vehicles for more than 20 years. However, with the changing times and the development of warfare forms, this type of drone has exposed problems such as excessive engine noise and difficulties in transportation and maintenance. In order to replace the RQ-7 drone as soon as possible, the US Army launched the FTUAS project selection bidding activity in 2018. In February 2023, the US Army officially selected five companies, including Northrop Grumman, to participate in the bidding process and determine the contract for the next three years and five development phases of the project. Affected by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the US Army proposed to purchase smaller company level UAVs in June 2023, and signed the first batch of orders in September this year after selecting "Phantom X" and C-100 UAVs. In February of this year, US Army Chief of Staff Randy George announced the "Contact Transformation" plan, which involves the military purchasing ready-made civilian products and handing them over to soldiers for combat testing. The US Army procurement director stated that the FTUAS program will become an important pilot for the "Contact Transformation" program. In May, the US Army officially established the FTUAS prototype development plan, aiming to complete the manufacturing and evaluation of the "competitive prototype" in fiscal year 2025 and enter full production in fiscal year 2026. According to reports, the small unmanned aerial vehicle system that the US Army is about to purchase has significantly improved performance compared to the RQ-7 unmanned aerial vehicle. Adopting a modular open system architecture. The new unmanned aerial vehicle has a wingspan of about 35 meters and a length of about 13 meters, with internal space capable of accommodating various mission payloads. Through standardized interfaces and protocols, various sensors, weapon systems, and communication devices can be integrated into unmanned aerial vehicle platforms, forming an integrated combat system that helps simplify system maintenance and upgrade processes. Energy management and power systems are relatively efficient. Relying on advanced battery and energy recovery technology, the new unmanned aerial vehicle can fly continuously for 40 hours, with a flight altitude of 19.5 kilometers. It can operate at altitudes that are difficult for the enemy's air defense system to reach, and even maintain a stable flight state in high-altitude areas, with continuous reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities. The communication and data link technology is relatively advanced. By adopting high-speed communication systems and cutting-edge data processing technologies, the new unmanned aerial vehicle can communicate and transmit data in real-time with the ground command center, ensuring timely understanding and accurate analysis of the battlefield situation. With the help of advanced data link technology, unmanned aerial vehicles can share information and collaborate efficiently. Following the restructuring, according to the "Contact Transformation" plan, three brigade level units of the US Army have been listed as pilot units for the first allocation, testing, and evaluation of small unmanned aerial vehicles, namely the 2nd Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division, the 2nd Brigade of the 25th Infantry Division, and the 3rd Brigade of the 10th Mountain Division. To maximize the effectiveness of drones, the US Army has designed and tested a new configuration. The 2nd Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division has established a multifunctional reconnaissance company directly under the brigade, with unmanned aerial vehicles as the key equipment. It has three reconnaissance platoons, one electronic warfare platoon, and one robot and autonomous system platoon under its jurisdiction. Each reconnaissance platoon is equipped with 6 small drones, while the robot and autonomous system platoon is equipped with large drones. The three battalions under the brigade have also established one new drone platoon each, each equipped with 12 small drones. The commander of the 2nd Brigade of the 25th Infantry Division of the US Army, White, stated that the brigade has fully deployed small unmanned aerial vehicles in all rifle platoons, with each platoon equipped with 5 to 7 aircraft, totaling more than 100 aircraft. Some analysts believe that although the US Army's unmanned combat forces have achieved independent organization, their scale is small and their role is limited, making them largely experimental. However, with the increasing importance of unmanned combat capabilities, their size and proportion will continue to rise, which may give rise to new combat styles. (New Society)