U.S. Army and UK Navy test T-150 drones in South Korea for frontline resupply and medevac.

US and UK forces tested T-150 drones in South Korea for battlefield supply and medical evacuation, exploring how unmanned systems could save lives under fire.

The U.S. Army and UK Royal Navy tested T-150 unmanned drones in South Korea on Sept. 14, 2025, demonstrating how autonomous systems could resupply troops and evacuate casualties under fire. The trial, organized by the U.S. 8th Army at the Rodriguez Live Fire Complex, highlighted how drones may transform frontline logistics and save lives in combat..
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The platform selected for these trials was the Malloy T-150, a heavy-lift quadcopter capable of carrying a payload of around 150 kilograms. (Picture source: US DoD)

The platform selected for these trials was the Malloy T-150, a heavy-lift quadcopter capable of carrying a payload of around 150 kilograms. For the US Army, the rationale is straightforward. In large-scale combat operations, where the battlefield is fragmented and ground convoys risk interception, a drone able to deliver ammunition, water, or medical kits directly to dispersed units reduces vulnerability. The T-150 can operate semi-autonomously along preprogrammed routes but can also be manually guided when precision is required. Its electric propulsion provides a lower acoustic and thermal signature compared to a helicopter, which increases its chances of survival in a contested environment.

American officers emphasized the system’s potential in medical evacuation. Lieutenant Colonel Robert McDonough, aeromedical officer of the 8th Army, underlined that preserving the “golden hour” is decisive for saving lives in high-intensity combat. A drone able to carry a stretcher or a wounded soldier to a transfer point for an ambulance offers commanders an alternative when helicopters are threatened by air defense systems. Although the T-150 is not intended to replace traditional CASEVAC platforms, the trials demonstrated that it could fill certain gaps and support medical units when ground mobility is blocked.

These trials were not improvised. Their preparation lasted six weeks, involving host-nation authorizations, airspace clearance, and careful coordination between the United States, the Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom. For the US Army, this planning illustrates the seriousness of the exercise. Beyond the mere flight of a drone, the aim was to replicate the administrative and operational constraints of a wartime context, ensuring that any technology introduced on the battlefield could be deployed under real conditions.

Captain Ryan Schonewolf, science officer of the 168th Multifunctional Medical Battalion, stressed the contribution of these drones to modernizing medical logistics. Class VIII supplies, including bandages, surgical instruments, and blood products, are particularly difficult to deliver in time-sensitive operations. By reducing delays, drones strengthen the resilience of forward medical posts and limit dependence on vulnerable supply lines. For the US Army medical department, the experiment confirmed that unmanned systems are not confined to reconnaissance or strikes but are also essential to sustain forces over time.

The Royal Navy contributed to the exercise by deploying the 700X Naval Air Squadron, responsible for operating the Malloy T-150. Their participation enabled useful cooperation, although the main objective remained integration with American units and the assessment of the system’s adaptability to US Army doctrine.

Strategically, the choice of South Korea as the testing ground is meaningful. The 8th Army is the only permanently deployed US field army and plays a central role in deterrence against North Korea, while also serving as a laboratory for new technologies. Conducting these trials on the peninsula sends a clear message: the United States is not only maintaining its presence but also actively preparing its forces for the realities of high-intensity conflict in East Asia. The integration of unmanned logistical solutions fits within the “Army Transformation Initiative,” which also includes the development of next-generation armored vehicles and long-range strike capabilities.

For the US Army, these trials were therefore not only a technical demonstration but also a step in its modernization roadmap, aimed at making logistics and medical support more resilient against future adversaries. The ability to deliver ammunition or evacuate casualties without exposing helicopters or ground convoys is not a matter of convenience but of preserving combat power in an environment where attrition is expected. The Malloy T-150 is only one stage in this evolution, but its performance in South Korea suggests that unmanned systems will soon become an integral part of US Army operations.