US Virginia National Guard Introduces Medium-Range Drones to Expand Recon for 116th Mobile Brigade.

The U.S. Virginia National Guard is introducing medium-range unmanned aerial systems to the 116th Mobile Brigade Combat Team to extend reconnaissance and battlefield awareness during maneuver operations. The capability supports the brigade’s transition from an Infantry Brigade Combat Team to a Mobile Brigade Combat Team, part of the Army’s broader modernization for large-scale combat environments.

The U.S. Virginia National Guard is expanding the reconnaissance capabilities of its 116th Mobile Brigade Combat Team by introducing medium-range unmanned aerial systems designed to support maneuver forces operating across extended distances. The new drones will provide deeper battlefield visibility and real-time intelligence for brigade commanders during dispersed operations. This initiative is tied to the unit’s transition from an Infantry Brigade Combat Team to a Mobile Brigade Combat Team, emphasizing improved mobility, reconnaissance reach, and operational flexibility.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

U.S. Virginia National Guard Soldiers from the 116th Mobile Brigade Combat Team train on medium-range reconnaissance drones at Fort Pickett, supporting the brigade’s transition to a Mobile Brigade Combat Team. (Picture source: U.S. Department of War)

U.S. soldiers from the brigade trained on two medium-range reconnaissance unmanned aerial systems at Fort Pickett, Virginia, as part of the unit’s capability development process. The U.S. Department of War reported the February 24, 2026, event, which prepared operators, mission planners, and support personnel to integrate unmanned aerial reconnaissance into brigade-level maneuver and intelligence operations.

The shift toward medium-range reconnaissance drones reflects a broader doctrinal adaptation across U.S. Army units as commanders seek to extend visual and sensor-based surveillance beyond the direct sight of ground troops. While small quadcopter drones, four-rotor unmanned aircraft commonly used for short-range observation, have become standard at the company and platoon levels, medium-range unmanned aerial systems provide significantly greater flight duration, surveillance range, and the ability to operate at higher altitudes. These systems can monitor terrain features (such as valleys or roadways), track enemy troop movements, and spot threats before they approach friendly units.

Within a Mobile Brigade Combat Team structure, such capabilities are particularly critical. The Mobile Brigade concept emphasizes rapid displacement, distributed operations, and long-range maneuver in complex terrain where traditional reconnaissance patrols may be limited by speed, risk, or range. By deploying medium-range reconnaissance drones, the brigade can maintain persistent surveillance over large operational areas while reducing exposure of ground reconnaissance elements.

Although the specific models used during the Fort Pickett training were not detailed in the initial reporting, medium-range tactical unmanned systems typically operate at ranges of 50-150 km, depending on configuration, payload, and communications architecture. These platforms generally employ electro-optical and infrared sensor packages capable of day-and-night surveillance, target identification, and movement tracking. Some variants also support laser designation or relay communications for dispersed ground forces.

For the 116th Mobile Brigade Combat Team, using these unmanned systems is more than just adding new equipment. It marks a shift toward an approach in which gathering battlefield information is central to operations, and unmanned aerial systems provide a steady flow of intelligence to decisions made at brigade and battalion headquarters. This network of sensor devices that detect and transmit battlefield information enables commanders to see what’s happening in real time, allowing them to find and attack targets faster and better predict the enemy's next move.

The Fort Pickett training established the procedural and technical foundations required for this integration. Operators practiced mission planning, launch and recovery procedures, sensor employment, and coordination with intelligence and fires cells. They also developed data-sharing processes to rapidly disseminate drone-collected imagery and tracking information across the brigade’s command network.

This capability expansion aligns with the U.S. Army’s broader modernization effort, emphasizing unmanned reconnaissance and distributed sensing across maneuver formations. Lessons learned from recent conflicts, particularly in Ukraine, have reinforced the decisive role of persistent drone surveillance in detecting troop movements, guiding artillery, and maintaining situational awareness across wide operational fronts.

For U.S. National Guard formations like the 116th, the adoption of medium-range reconnaissance drones also reflects a growing expectation that reserve-component units must maintain parity with active-duty forces in advanced battlefield technologies. As the Army shifts toward multi-domain operations and prepares for potential high-intensity conflicts against technologically sophisticated adversaries, brigade-level reconnaissance and targeting capabilities have become essential rather than supplementary.

The transition from an Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT)—a unit built around foot soldiers—to a Mobile Brigade Combat Team (MBCT) highlights the Army’s effort to change force structure for the future. Mobile brigades are designed for rapid movement across dangerous or contested terrain, using intelligence, artillery, and unmanned systems to spot and attack threats before coming into direct contact.

Looking ahead, continued training and system integration will determine how effectively the 116th Mobile Brigade Combat Team can operationalize its new reconnaissance assets. As additional unmanned platforms, sensors, and digital command networks are fielded across the brigade, the unit is expected to evolve toward a more agile, sensor-driven formation capable of operating across dispersed battlefields while maintaining persistent situational awareness.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.