DVIDS – News – Transforming Warfare: New Technologies to Protect Soldiers

FORT LIBERTY, N.C. – In the face of many dangers, U.S. Army technology has adapted to protect commanders and Soldiers on the modern battlefield, propelling the Army into 2030.

Leaders like Command Sergeant Major Corey Wilkens, command sergeant major for XVIII Airborne Corps’ 20th Engineer Brigade, have witnessed firsthand the advances in technology over the past 22 years. The brigade’s mission is to provide engineer support to forces across the Army, joint force and Special Operations Command.

“What I’ve learned as a combat engineer is that when we’re in need, government, industry and the United States are there to help us and meet the needs of the time,” Wilkens said. “Technology challenges change every day, and we’re constantly adapting as new technologies emerge.”

He witnessed firsthand the techniques used during wartime through various deployments, including deployments to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Inherent Resolve, as well as multiple deployments to Afghanistan.

Wilkens enlisted at the beginning of the Global War on Terrorism, when the threat of intermittent explosive hazards was rampant. Route clearance equipment and incredibly rapid fielding and doctrinal changes allowed combat engineers to get around enemy obstacles and accomplish difficult missions, he said.

“What we saw in the early days was industry and government coming together to answer a technology need to save people’s lives,” Wilkens said. “In fact, what we do today, when you look at detectors flying on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), it really ties into that mission.”

Wilkens recently participated in Sand Hills Project 3.0, an innovation experiment to provide a robotic autonomous breach solution for large scale combat operations, taking place at Fort Liberty on July 10, 2024.

“The goal of Sandhills Project 3.0 is to empower XVIII Airborne Corps to execute unmanned breaches, remove engineers from the breach and replace robots with engineers,” Wilkens explained. “We do this with industry-leading partnerships so we can learn how to work together and understand the next steps we need to take to enable this capability within XVIII Airborne Corps and be able to deliver the fight.”

Through Sand Hills Project 3.0, a privately-run mechanical engineering firm partnering with the U.S. Army to conduct field demonstrations for service members, the 20th Fighter Task Force’s successful use of technology continues to have a profound impact on the Army’s warfighting capabilities.

1st Class Shakil Wali, a horizontal construction technician with Mobility and Space Command’s 264th Sweeping Squadron, 20th Bomber Task Force, believes Sandhills Project 3.0 is a major advancement in enhancing modern warfare tactics and protecting Soldiers’ lives.

“My favorite part of Sandhills Project 3.0 is the drones (UAS),” Wali revealed. “We feel they are faster and more efficient at clearing obstacles than traditional tools, keeping soldiers out of harm’s way to prevent injuries and preserve manpower.”

A “ground-penetrating radar drone” developed by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, a technology company partnering with the Army, was tested as part of Sand Hills Project 3.0.

James Reimer, a mechanical engineer at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, was one of the demonstrators for Sand Hills Project 3.0.

“The ability to fly these drones remotely will allow us to keep warfighters away from threats and hazards on the battlefield,” Reimer said. “It eliminates the command loop for hazards and detects dangerous explosives at long range and much faster than current technology.”

The ability to fly drones from farther away gives soldiers better protection from enemy obstacles on the battlefield, allowing combat engineers to quickly spot dangerous explosives from afar without putting anyone at risk.

Wilkens said the Army’s ability to test and provide feedback on high-speed drone technology used in combat is invaluable. The asset will help meet Army 2030 requirements.

“The U.S. Army is committed to investing in advanced technologies to enhance warfighting capabilities and ensure combat engineers have the tools they need to effectively address enemy obstacles. Investments in unmanned aerial systems, such as those tested in Sand Hills Project 3.0, are essential to improving Soldier safety and minimizing loss of life in combat.”

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