Army is shutting down a unit in Europe focused on drones

Key Points:

• The 173rd Airborne Brigade, a U.S. Army unit in Europe specializing in drone warfare, has been ordered to cease its drone operations and return to traditional infantry roles by Gen. Christopher LaNeve, the Army’s acting chief of staff.
• The brigade had been experimenting with building and using drones, inspired by Ukrainian tactics against Russia, and had formed a dedicated drone warfare battalion in November 2025.
• Despite the ongoing threat from Iranian drone attacks and lessons learned from Ukraine, the Army is refocusing on conventional infantry capabilities amid a leadership reshuffle following the abrupt removal of Gen. Randy George.
• The drone unit will complete two final exercises in Germany before ending its specialized operations and submitting its findings to inform future Army force design and experimentation.
• LaNeve’s recent guidance emphasizes traditional combat effectiveness and innovation with advanced technologies like AI but notably omits specific mention of drones, signaling a shift in Army priorities.