Spartan paratroopers expand battlefield lethality during multi-purpose company live-fire exercises
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Paratroopers assigned to the 2nd Mobile Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 11th Airborne Division, integrated armed small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS), sniper teams, reconnaissance elements and a gun truck during a series of Multi-Purpose Company (MPC) live-fire exercises at the Multi-Purpose Training Range (MPTR) in the Richardson Training Area on Sept. 29 and Oct. 19-20, 2026.
The exercises marked a milestone for the Spartan Brigade, including the first kinetic drone strike conducted within the Richardson Training Area. The training brought together multiple combat capabilities, with paratroopers conducting live-fire engagements using sniper weapons, a gun truck and armed first-person view (FPV) drones. The exercises reinforced the brigade's ability to identify, engage and destroy enemy threats while building lethality in an evolving, sUAS-rich operational environment.
"The Kinetic Drone Strike completed on MPTR was the first of its kind in the Richardson Training Area (RTA)," said Capt. Raymond Bartoli, a brigade planner and officer in charge of the live-fire range. "The Multi-Functional Reconnaissance Company (MFRC), Commanded by CPT Pat Robinson, set the conditions to allow the strike to occur."
The brigade's Multi-Functional Reconnaissance Company, commanded by Capt. Pat Robinson, coordinated the initial effort alongside explosive ordnance disposal personnel and sUAS specialists. Support from Capt. Alanna Severt and the explosive ordnance disposal team, along with the brigade's sUAS master trainer, Sgt. 1st Class Devin McNamara, enabled operators to conduct test flights with unarmed explosive payloads. These flights allowed operators to evaluate how the additional weight affected aircraft maneuverability before conducting live strikes.
"These test flights gave the sUAS Operators feedback on how the explosives' weight impacted the drone's maneuverability," Bartoli said. "The MFRC executed the first live flight and strike, which allowed the Multi-Purpose Companies to integrate the armed sUAS into their Live Fire Exercise (LFX)."
Throughout the exercises, Spartan paratroopers combined reconnaissance, precision marksmanship, ground based firepower and armed drones to strengthen their ability to employ multiple combat capabilities during live-fire operations. Reconnaissance elements supported battlefield awareness and target identification, while sniper teams engaged targets with precision fire. A gun truck provided additional direct fire capability, engaging targets with live ammunition alongside the other weapon systems employed during the training.
The MPC combines specialized combat capabilities at the battalion level, providing commanders with additional options to conduct reconnaissance, coordinate fires and engage enemy threats. Integrating gun trucks, sniper teams and armed sUAS into live-fire training strengthens collective proficiency and reinforces the importance of coordinating different weapon systems to achieve lethal effects.
For the Spartan Brigade, these capabilities are particularly relevant in Arctic and mountainous environments, where challenging terrain, restricted ground movement and degraded line of sight communications can complicate combat operations. Integrating armed sUAS at the company level provides commanders with additional means of acquiring targets and delivering precision fires while maintaining the flexibility required for dispersed operations.
The exercises also reinforced the importance of mission command and tactical initiative. By employing reconnaissance elements, sniper teams, gun trucks and armed drones during company level training, Spartan paratroopers strengthened their ability to coordinate available combat power and respond to battlefield threats. The combination of traditional weapon systems and unmanned capabilities reinforces the fundamentals of combat while preparing Soldiers for increasingly complex operational environments.
The successful execution of kinetic drone strikes within the Richardson Training Area establishes a foundation for future armed sUAS training opportunities across the brigade. As unmanned systems continue to influence the modern battlefield, integrating these capabilities with conventional weapon systems remains essential to developing adaptable and lethal formations.
Through realistic and demanding training, the 2nd Mobile Brigade Combat Team continues to strengthen its ability to conduct independent operations, adapt to evolving threats and deliver decisive combat power. For the 11th Airborne Division, the focus remains on building Arctic Soldiers prepared to fight and win in the world's most challenging environments.
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