XVIII Airborne Corps

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — Soldiers assigned to the 44th Medical Brigade, XVIII Airborne Corps are expanding battlefield medical support capabilities by integrating unmanned aircraft systems into medical resupply operations

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - The war in Ukraine has revealed why a shift in counter‑unmanned aerial system (c-UAS) training is necessary. The widespread use of First-Person View (FPV) drones has shown how quickly unmanned aerial systems (UAS) can overwhelm traditional defenses. These lessons reinforced the U.S. Army’s need for adaptable, scalable c-UAS tools that Soldiers can employ immediately, without waiting years for new systems to reach the field.

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll hosted the inaugural Defense Critical Infrastructure Summit at Fort Bragg on May 14, bringing together military leaders, government agencies and private-sector partners to strengthen the resilience of infrastructure critical to Army readiness.

Elevate the priority. Break down the barriers. Build lasting partnerships. Today, Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll hosted the inaugural Army Defense Critical Infrastructure (DCI) Summit at the Joint Innovation Outpost, Fort Bragg, N.C. Senior leaders from across the federal government, state and local government, interagency, and the private sector gathered to lay the foundation for how the Army approaches national security in a contested environment. Critical infrastructure resilience is not a back-office function. It is a strategic imperative, and the partnerships forged today reflect that reality. The conversations started here will shape how the Army hardens critical infrastructure across more than 280 installations worldwide, ensuring the systems and relationships are in place long before they are needed. This is readiness. This is transformation. This is the kind of bold, collaborative problem-solving that defines who we are and how we fight. "We worked with these partners to start conversations that we think will have a deep impact on our nation's security." — Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll #XVIIIAirborneCorps #FortBragg #Army #CriticalInfrastructure #DCISummit #NationalSecurity #PublicPrivatePartnership

Accelerate. Innovate. Dominate. The Lt. Gen. James M. Gavin Joint Innovation Outpost is changing how the Army solves problems. Rob Braun, CTO of XVIII Airborne Corps, sat down with GovCast to talk about what the Joint Innovation Outpost is actually doing: connecting Soldiers directly with engineers and industry to rapidly prototype solutions based on real warfighter input, not requirements written years removed from the battlefield. The conversation covers how the Joint Innovation Outpost is compressing the acquisition timeline, how the Army is evaluating operational risk as innovation cycles accelerate, and why off-post ranges and commercial-like environments are central to testing emerging capabilities. Watch the full interview: https://lnkd.in/dS2CWRbJ #XVIIIAirborneCorps #JointInnovationOutpost #Innovation #ArmyModernization #Airborne #Transformation

This morning, leaders from Fort Bragg gathered with local officials, community partners, and media to discuss the projects and priorities shaping the installation's future. Read the full recap below:

Professional development across the force is strengthened by the insights and experiences of our enlisted leaders. In this courtesy article, 1SG Justin Webster outlines seven leadership lessons that apply across formations and missions, reinforcing the fundamentals that drive readiness and success. These contributions highlight the critical role of the NCO Corps in developing leaders and sustaining excellence across the Army. If you are a member of the Corps and have a courtesy article, please send it to our inbox.

The proliferation of inexpensive unmanned aerial systems requires a strategic shift in how we defend our forces. Relying on high-cost interceptors to neutralize cheap, expendable drones is an unsustainable approach. Project Bumblebee, led by Joint Interagency Task Force 401, provides a practical alternative: a low-cost, dual-purpose ISR and kinetic capability right at the tactical edge. Operationally, Bumblebee is engineered to neutralize a wide spectrum of tactical UAS threats through a reliable kinetic defeat mechanism. The system possesses the speed and operational reach required to intercept targets well outside the perimeter of friendly forces. Advanced onboard sensors ensure operators maintain a continuous, high-fidelity data link right up until the system’s autonomous terminal guidance takes over for the final strike. By fielding a highly attritable, exceptionally low-cost airframe. This platform effectively reverses the cost-exchange ratio, allowing us to eliminate tactical threats while preserving our premier air defense assets for strategic targets. The accelerated development of this system relies entirely on the Joint Innovation Outpost (JIOP) framework. Rather than waiting for traditional acquisition cycles to conclude, we are putting this technology directly into the hands of Soldiers. As unmanned systems become ubiquitous on the battlefield, operating these platforms is rapidly becoming a fundamental tactical skill, much like basic rifle marksmanship. Paratroopers from the XVIII Airborne Corps are conducting rigorous field evaluations to stress the technology and send direct, operator-level feedback to the engineering teams. This loop enables rapid hardware and software adjustments based on genuine field conditions. This effort is a clear demonstration of agile acquisition in practice. By combining government resources, industry expertise, and direct warfighter involvement, we are rapidly deploying the lethality and readiness our forces require.

Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), U.S. Army recently fielded the Tactical Electronic Warfare System–Infantry on Infantry Squad Vehicles for the first time during a Joint Readiness Training Center rotation, pairing mobile electromagnetic sensing with the speed and agility of air assault operations. Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/gDFUqja8 By Master Sgt. Anthony Hewitt #XVIIIAirborneCorps #AllTheWay #USArmy #FortBragg #AirborneReady #ElectronicWarfare #101stAirborneDivision

The LTG James M. Gavin Joint Innovation Outpost (JIOP) is where urgent operational needs meet rapid solutions. The JIOP serves as the Army's nexus for rapid innovation, bridging the gap between the warfighter and cutting-edge technology by uniting government, industry, and academia. From counter-UAS architecture to predictive tactical medical care to autonomous breaching capabilities, the JIOP accelerates dual-use technologies from discovery to employment. Operating in focused 90-120 day program increments and two-week sprints, the JIOP delivers tangible warfighting advantages at speed. Innovation thrives in the right environment. Interested in partnering with us? Visit the link below to learn how to engage with the Joint Innovation Outpost and request a partnership. 🔗 pit.online15.net/contact #XVIIIAirborneCorps #JIOP #Innovation #Transformation #Defense #Airborne