Soldiers from 1st Battalion The Rifles have completed an experimental Counter Unmanned Aerial System (C UAS) exercise at Sennybridge Training Area, helping to shape how British troops could respond to evolving drone threats on the battlefield.
The exercise tested a new Counter UAS Annual Combat Marksmanship Test (ACMT), designed to prepare troops to identify, track and defeat hostile drones using a combination of specialist technology and precision shooting.
Drawing on lessons learned from the conflict in Ukraine, Riflemen were assessed on their ability to identify, track and jam enemy drones, while also carrying out precision shooting against Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) drones at range.
The exercise also included close range engagements of First Person View (FPV) drones using shotguns, with soldiers required to hit targets at distances of 25 metres. It marked the first range of its kind to test a layered Counter UAS system, with the aim of developing an annual marksmanship test focused on countering drone threats.
The trial forms part of wider efforts by 1 RIFLES to modernise its capabilities while maintaining the core skills of infantry soldiering.
The battalion returned to Beachley Barracks in Chepstow in August 2025 after completing a two year tour of Cyprus, where it served as the resident infantry battalion and remained on high readiness to respond to emergencies across the Middle East and North Africa.
Since returning to the UK, 1 RIFLES has converted to the Mechanised Infantry role within 7 Light Mechanised Brigade as part of the Future Soldier Programme. The battalion is also preparing to deploy to Kosovo on an operational rehearsal as part of its role as the NATO Strategic Reserve Force for the region, enabling it to work alongside NATO partners and respond rapidly if required.
Alongside mastering traditional soldiering skills, the battalion has continued to develop and introduce Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) and Counter UAS capabilities, while leading Cyber and Electromagnetic Spectrum activities within 7 Brigade.
Central to this approach has been the development of “tech minded Riflemen”, equipping soldiers with the skills needed to adapt quickly to the rapidly changing demands of the modern battlefield.
