US Air Forces Central (AFCENT) and US Army Central (ARCENT) conducted operational tests on CARPE Dronvm, a phone app for Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems reporting and alerting, on July 18, 2023.
As an AFCENT initiative developed by MITRE, the smartphone app enables users to report suspicious drone activity and provide increased situational awareness to appropriate authorities, including command centers, stated AFCENT.
During a pre-planned 50-kilometer drone flight from McEntire Joint National Guard Base (JNGB) to Poinsett Electronic Combat Range, soldiers from ARCENT put the CARPE Dronvm app to the test. Positioned strategically along the flight route, soldiers identified, photographed, and reported the drone’s activities using the app.
Meanwhile, AFCENT and MITRE personnel closely monitored the soldiers’ reports through a simulated command center at Poinsett Range, utilizing CARPE Dronvm’s situational awareness map for comprehensive analysis.
“This Carpe Dronvm test is the largest live test conducted to date,” said US Army Maj. Travis Valley, USARCENT Task Force 39 operations officer.
“Carpe Dronvm has the potential to provide real-time, crowd-sourced data about small, unmanned aerial systems to military decisions makers around the globe. Using CD, we can increase our detection capabilities and our ability to protect service members on the future battlefield,” he said.
In recent times, the menace of UAS has grown, driven by malign regional actors who persist in exploiting this cost-effective weapons system. Its affordability has made it the preferred choice for potential adversaries, leading to swift technology dissemination and widespread usage, explained Lt. Gen. Patrick Frank, the USARCENT Commanding General.
