Full-Scale Training Scenario Was Called Exercise Lightning Shield

A full-scale training exercise called Exercise Lightning Shield was conducted by Airborne Response last week, during which it provided aerial support for the U.S. Army National Guard, as well as specialized elements of the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department, at the Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida.

A Miami-based provider of "Mission Critical Unmanned Solutions" for industry and government, Airborne Response says that by deploying a force made up of UAS and Tethered Aerostat Systems (TAS) flight teams, it was able to provide "comprehensive low-altitude umbrella" capable of delivering aerial intelligence throughout the simulated disaster response exercise.

"Delivering multiple live aerial data feeds to command and control elements was our primary objective," says Nathaniel Clutch, director of training for Airborne Response. "We identified several potential systems for testing, and proved our capability to send real-time video streams from each asset to the incident command."

According to Clutch, the TAS were deployed to provide uninterrupted aerial overwatch throughout the exercise. Meanwhile, the UAS, which were equipped with assorted payload sensors, captured a number of focal length views and perspectives of each training evolution. "We increase our knowledge base by capturing key learning outcomes and garnering new experience each time we deploy," Clutch explains.

"Exercise Lightning Shield provided us with additional insight as to which systems we need to have available when we deploy UAS and TAS during a complex emergency or disaster response."

Clutch believes that training exercises like Lightning Shield help Airborne Response better prepare for real-world disaster deployments. Ty Rozier, field operations manager for Airborne Response, agrees. These exercises also provide an opportunity for Airborne Response to test new equipment and software to determine what gear should be used for specific types of incidents.

With this in mind, Airborne Response also used Lightening Shield to test a new version of a hardened American-made UAS that has specialized flight control and stability software designed to fly in non-GPS environments. The UAS has been used in underground mine shafts, as well as by SWAT teams for dynamic entry bleaching. "The system proved extremely valuable for simulating search and rescue operations under the race track grandstands, as well as conducting aerial sweeps for possible secondary devices up in the rafters," Rozier says.

For Clutch, though, success at the end of the day really comes down to the team, not the equipment.

"We have an incredible team that has both trained together and also responded to real-world disasters together," Clutch says. "That is what differentiates Airborne Response from other solution providers."

(Source: Airborne Response news release. Images provided)

FMI: www.airborneresponse.com