US Army tests FPV drones in Germany under ‘Project Shiv’

The U.S. Army has conducted its first live-fire training exercise using first-person view (FPV) drones carrying munitions, marking a significant milestone in the military’s unmanned systems development.

The test flights, held from 17 to 20 February 2025 at the Grafenwoehr Training Area in Bavaria, Germany, saw soldiers successfully fly armed FPV drones onto targets in a controlled range environment.

The event, dubbed Project Shiv, is part of a wider U.S. Army push to modernise battlefield tactics using low-cost, adaptable unmanned platforms in line with current global combat trends.

While FPV drones have been employed for training purposes before, this was the first time the U.S. military executed live munition strikes using these systems in a host nation. The effort reflects growing interest in the battlefield utility of drone-delivered munitions, as seen in ongoing conflicts such as Ukraine.

According to officials, the drones were built and tested by a small team from the 173rd Airborne Brigade’s UAS Platoon, including Chief Warrant Officer 2 Nathan Shea and specialists Dean Aguirre and Ferdinand DeFelice. Working with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM), the team developed and integrated custom 3D-printed casings for the munitions and conducted static and live flight trials.

“This is the step forward that everyone in the Army is looking for. It’s that big leap forward,” said Shea, who led the flight planning and drone development effort. “The moment that first one exploded on impact, it was fantastic.”

The team operated out of Balli Airfield in Vilseck, assembling drones on site and fine-tuning flight parameters to ensure accuracy and safety. The developmental munitions were integrated in compliance with U.S. and host nation laws and range safety regulations.

Specialist Aguirre, one of the Army’s FPV pilots involved in the test, expressed excitement about the opportunity to contribute: “I have been dreaming of doing this stuff. We’re like kids in a candy store.”

The test campaign explored critical performance parameters, including the drones’ range, approach angle, and munition weight impact. While the drones were used in a one-way attack configuration, the lessons learned are expected to inform future drone employment tactics, techniques, and procedures.