US Army trains with Czech-Ukrainian Stork LR reconnaissance drone during NATO exercise in Germany.

US Army soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment launched a Czech-built STORK LR long-range reconnaissance drone during exercise Combined Resolve 27-01 at the Hohenfels Training Area in Germany on October 16, 2026. Operating as the exercise's dedicated opposing force, the battalion utilized the fixed-wing platform to replicate modern peer-threat aerial surveillance and electronic warfare dynamics observed on the Ukrainian front. The deployment follows a May 2026 supply contract between manufacturer U&C UAS and US Army units in Europe to integrate battlefield-tested reconnaissance technologies into coalition training regiments.

Developed by U&C UAS in the Czech Republic using heritage designs from Ukraine’s DeViRo Leleka series, the STORK LR features catapult launch, belly-landing recovery, a range of up to 135 kilometers, and up to 5.5 hours of flight endurance. (Picture source: U.S. Army)

In its pursuit of superiority in the use of drones, the US Army trains with the Czech-Ukrainian STORK LR. An official photograph taken on October 16, 2026, and published on DVIDS shows soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment after launching the drone during Combined Resolve in Hohenfels, Germany. The operational value of the system lies in its stated ability to maintain aerial observation for several hours and transmit information during operations, beyond the field of view of ground units. At Hohenfels, the operational context adds an extra dimension. The battalion was tasked with making the training of American and allied units as realistic as possible, reflecting conditions on the Ukrainian front.

Consequently, the unit's use of a reconnaissance drone served a dual purpose: it familiarized operators with the system while simultaneously exposing the units undergoing training to the experience of prolonged aerial surveillance. However, the published documentation does not specify either the STORK LR's simulated missions or the results obtained. This distinction between piloting and usefulness to the unit echoes an analysis by Captain Micah Roubideaux published in June 2026 by the Center for Army Lessons Learned. Based on observations at the Hohenfels center, he emphasizes that technical proficiency must support continuity of reconnaissance and unit decision-making. His article does not constitute an assessment of the STORK LR.

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In September 2026, Colonel Gregory Merkl, Drone Dominance director for the US Army, also emphasized to Breaking Defense the need to train personnel in the use of drones in a contested electromagnetic environment. For soldiers, the challenge therefore goes beyond piloting and includes information exploitation, communications, and support. Developed by U&C UAS, the STORK LR is intended for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, commonly abbreviated as ISR. The manufacturer also mentions artillery fire adjustment. For units operating the system, the expected benefit is the ability to track movements, observe an area over time and update their understanding of the situation. Real-time transmission allows observations to be used without waiting for the aircraft to return. Their usefulness, however, depends on their interpretation and dissemination to the relevant levels of command. This fixed-wing drone has a takeoff weight of 14 kilograms.

U&C reports up to five hours and thirty minutes of flight time and a tactical range of up to 135 kilometers. Such endurance could limit surveillance interruptions associated with aircraft changeovers and facilitate the comparison of successive observations. However, this flight time includes the transit to and from the observation area. The stated range does not correspond to the sensors' target identification range. These remain the manufacturer's figures, with no published measurements from the US Army exercise. Catapult launch and recovery by belly landing reduce reliance on a prepared runway. This configuration facilitates operation from temporary sites, provided that suitable space and support are available. For observation, U&C describes a multisensor module that can be used day and night, with image stabilization and automatic tracking.

These functions should help the operator keep an object in the field of view despite the drone's movements. The night-time observation capability would also allow for continued surveillance when visible light becomes insufficient. Encrypted links are used to transmit images and flight data, according to the manufacturer's presentation reported by Army Recognition at the World Defense Show 2026. U&C also offers a relay function between aircraft, which can extend the system's connectivity. For navigation in a jammed environment, U&C describes a jam-resistant satellite navigation receiver and automatic switching to inertial navigation in the event of signal loss or spoofing. Maintaining navigation does not guarantee that the video stream will be maintained when communications are jammed. The programme retains ties to Ukraine's drone industry.

According to Militarnyi, U&C UAS was founded by the co-owners of DeViRo, known for its Leleka drones, and then established production in Kolín, in the Czech Republic. The company stated in 2023 that testing, maintenance, and operator training would be conducted in Ukraine. This arrangement aimed to combine production in Europe with the experience of Ukrainian teams. In May 2026, U&C announced a contract to supply reconnaissance drones to US Army units in Europe, in partnership with ATP Gov, for ISR and base protection. The press release did not specify the model, quantities, contract value, or delivery schedule. The presence of the STORK LR at Combined Resolve confirms its use in training, without demonstrating widespread fielding across the US Army. Its contribution on a larger scale will depend on the reliability of observations, their transmission and their integration into unit operations.

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