FEBRUARY 23, 2026 — The U.S. Army announced the winners of the inaugural Best Drone Warfighter Competition, a three‑day event held on Feb. 17-19 that brought together elite drone operators from across the active duty, reserve and National Guard components.
The competition was hosted by the Army Aviation Center of Excellence and the Maneuver Center of Excellence, in Huntsville, Alabama, sponsored by the Army Aviation Association of America in partnership with the University of Alabama Huntsville.
The event drew over 200 competitors and more than 800 attendees, showcasing the Army’s most skilled small‑UAS operators. Participants competed in three distinct challenges designed to test speed, precision, teamwork and creativity in small‑UAS employment: a high‑speed drone race, a tactical squad lane and an innovation showcase, highlighting the Army’s commitment to integrating advanced unmanned aerial systems at every echelon of the force…