The U.S. Army's new Gabriel drone may cause a major shift in warfare after the completion of a nighttime ammunition resupply drill in Hawaii this month, according to Special Operations Forces Report (SOFREP), a military news site.
The U.S. Army recently strengthened its tactical drone capabilities with the introduction of new systems like the Gabriel drone. The Gabriel (G1), developed by California-based Soaring, was able to deliver 2,400 rounds of 7.62-millimeter ammunition to an infantry platoon participating in a live-fire exercise drill in Hawaii. The drone dropped ammunition and food to soldiers on the island of Oahu in three flights spanning 16 minutes.
"Safe and expedient resupply capabilities are critical to mission success, especially in the dynamic environments faced by our service members," Soaring chief executive Daniel Trunfio said in a statement.
The drone, a multi-purpose vertical takeoff and landing machine, was designed for autonomous aerial resupply of ammunition during battalion-level Live Fire Exercises. According to SOFREP, the drone has demonstrated its effectiveness in various conditions, including night operations and emergency resupply missions, with its adaptability and reliability for tactical resupply in diverse environments.
On Monday, SOFREP noted how the Gabriel drone may cause a "shift" in modern warfare, adding that it offers a "reduced risk to soldiers and faster resupply."
"The successful trials of the G1 Gabriel drone signal a potential paradigm shift in modern warfare. Autonomous systems like this offer a crucial edge: reduced risk to soldiers, faster resupply, and the ability to seamlessly operate in diverse environments," SOFREP wrote.
Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. Army via email for comment.
SOFREP continued that the drone fits the U.S Army's goals of "innovation and adaptation."
"This technology aligns perfectly with the US Army's focus on innovation and adaptation, ensuring its soldiers have the tools they need to succeed on the ever-evolving battlefield," SOFREP added.
This comes as the U.S Army pointed toward the increasing need for low-risk methods for resupply solutions, noting a lesson from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, in which they said the current method for resupply will "likely fail."
"The Army is working to identify a reliable, autonomous alternative for tactical resupply to replenish mission-critical resources at the point of contact with the enemy, without risking lives," Lieutenant Colonel Pete Walther, battalion commander in the U.S. Army's 25th Infantry Division, responsible for the Hawaii training event, said in a statement.
"Our soldiers require resupply of water and ammunition to continue the fight, however lessons from the Ukraine conflict teach us that our current forms of tactical resupply will likely fail, especially in the Pacific region. There is a real need for innovative low-risk resupply solutions critical to the success of the operation."
Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, tensions between NATO countries and the Kremlin have continued as NATO leaders have increasingly warned that direct conflict with Moscow is a realistic danger.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and senior Russian officials have repeatedly talked about nuclear escalation against Kyiv and its Western partners since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
