SOCOM Empowers Troops to Build and Fly FPV Drones
As global conflicts increasingly underscore the role of inexpensive, agile drone technologies on the battlefield, U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is taking a proactive step to empower its forces with both the knowledge and tools to build and operate first-person view (FPV) drones. According to the recent Defense News article, “SOCOM wants to train operators to build, wield FPV drones,” the command is seeking to integrate grassroots-level drone capabilities directly into its operator training pipeline, with the aim of improving adaptability and battlefield effectiveness.
SOCOM’s initiative reflects the rapid proliferation and operational impact of FPV drones, particularly as seen in recent conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine. There, a combination of off-the-shelf and custom-built FPV drones have been used to conduct surveillance, direct artillery fire, and deliver explosive payloads with striking efficacy. These drones, typically flown in real-time using immersive headsets, offer significant tactical advantages and a low-cost avenue for technologically driven operations.
Brig. Gen. Steve Marks, director of science and technology at SOCOM, emphasized that the command is not merely interested in acquiring FPV drones but in developing an internal capability that allows special operators to organically build, modify, and deploy these systems based on mission-specific requirements. Marks characterized the effort as crucial to staying ahead of adversaries who have already embraced similar technologies with alarming success.
The training under consideration would go beyond operational use, teaching operators the fundamentals of drone assembly—such as soldering, electronics, and software integration—enabling them to innovate in theater without relying on logistical supply chains or external support. This focus on hands-on capability represents a shift from traditional acquisition strategies, highlighting how skilled operator-technicians could become force multipliers in asymmetric environments.
SOCOM officials told Defense News that the program is part of a broader investment in technology democratization, where warfighters gain direct access to the tools and knowledge most relevant to evolving threats. The command is now exploring educational partners and prototype platforms to launch a scalable training curriculum, potentially in collaboration with industry startups or academic institutions with a focus on robotics and engineering.
This grassroots approach may also resonate with a younger generation of military personnel already familiar with consumer drones and do-it-yourself tech culture. Marks noted that such familiarity could serve as a natural foundation for more sophisticated drone applications, bridging the gap between consumer markets and battlefield innovation.
SOCOM’s interest in adapting such commercial technologies for military use reflects a wider Department of Defense trend seeking to hasten innovation cycles and field solutions more rapidly. With near-peer competitors deploying similar technologies at scale, embracing low-cost, high-impact capabilities like FPV drones may become critical to maintaining operational superiority in conflict zones that demand agility and speed over scale alone.
As the U.S. military continues examining the tactical role of unmanned systems, SOCOM’s forward-leaning pivot may serve as both a blueprint and a proving ground for how to harmonize grassroots ingenuity with elite military precision.
