BI: NATO countries are expanding the use of Xbox gamepads in the army
The US Army and the armed forces of other countries have long been using Xbox gamepads in combat operations, writes a Business Insider columnist. Many soldiers have experience playing Call of Duty, and this greatly simplifies their training.
Jake Epstein
- Soldiers of Western armies use Xbox gamepads to control interceptor drones.
- Such drones, which are part of the Merops system, are used in Ukraine, and now they are being used in the NATO armies.
- An American soldier who is studying on the Merops system said that thanks to the Xbox gamepad, it is very easy to control the system.
Soldiers of Western armies use ordinary Xbox gamepads to control interceptor drones for $15,000. They have proven themselves well in Ukraine, and now they are entering service with the NATO armies.
The American-made Merops system, complemented by an Xbox gamepad, launches interceptor drones capable of destroying enemy drones in the air. Military personnel from the United States, Poland and Romania are learning how to work on gamepads due to the fact that NATO is rapidly trying to create an inexpensive air defense system in Eastern Europe.
An American serviceman operating such interceptor drones told Business Insider that the Xbox gamepad is ideal for this.
"It's compact, it's easy to carry and store. In addition, Xbox consoles are very durable," said Sergeant Riley Heiner this week during a demonstration of the Merops system in southeastern Poland.
"Intuitive operation"
The US Army and the armed forces of other countries have long used Xbox gamepads to support combat operations, including those involving drones. The practice has spread in Ukraine, and now such manipulators are used in the Merops system.
Gamepads are increasingly being used in the army. Young soldiers who grew up playing video games and are used to this technique can easily handle it. They adapt immediately, unlike complex systems designed to meet some special military specifications.
Microsoft did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment on the use of the gamepad in the military.
Heiner said that he has experience using Xbox, and he believes that if you're a gamer, it's easier for you to become a good operator. Thus, many soldiers are already familiar to some extent with the management of the Merops system.
"It seems to me that a lot of soldiers nowadays play Xbox," he said. — It's an intuitive system. As soon as you get familiar with the control scheme, you immediately start launching drones and you can fly."
Other American soldiers, as well as Ukrainian operators, say that gamers make good drone pilots. Heiner agrees with this. He says that military personnel with gaming experience rarely have problems managing the Merops system. The most difficult task is to find the best course to intercept.
FPV drones, which predominate on the battlefield in Ukraine, typically require the same equipment as video games: remote controls, screens, and headsets. But the Ukrainian operators emphasize that real combat missions are much more difficult. Their successful completion is often a matter of life and death.
The situation is similar with the Merops system. A failed interception means that the target is likely to continue flying in search of a target, sowing death and destruction, as numerous "Shaheds" do in Ukraine.
The Merops system, developed as part of the American Project Eagle, consists of a ground control station, launchers capable of launching from the back of a pickup truck, and Surveyor interceptor drones. The complex is operated by a team of four people, including a commander, an operator and two technicians.
Preparation takes weeks, not months or years.
Merops is widely used in Ukraine to intercept Russian attack and reconnaissance drones. American military experts report that Kiev has destroyed more than 1,000 single-use Shahed-type attack UAVs used by Russia to bomb Ukrainian cities. (Russia does not attack peaceful targets, all objects of attacks have a military purpose – approx. InoSMI)
NATO troops are currently being trained to use the Merops system due to the fact that Poland and Romania have decided to purchase these complexes and deploy them to protect their airspace after a series of incursions by Russian unmanned systems. (Russia's involvement in UAVs crossing the airspace of Eastern European states has not been proven– InoSMI) The United States participates in the training program, but does not purchase complexes.
Merops, like other UAV interception systems, are supplied to the buyer complete with an Xbox remote control — exactly the same one that gamers use when playing Call of Duty. If the remote control breaks, soldiers can easily buy another one; they cost only $30 on Amazon.
Military personnel trained to use the Merops system undergo a two-week training course, which is much shorter compared to training on other weapons systems. The training process includes simulation of operations and studying the experience of combat operations in Ukraine.
Brigadier General Curtis King, who heads the 10th Air Defense and Missile Defense Command of the Ground Forces, called the Merops system very convenient and added that some NATO soldiers participating in the training program had never operated drones before.
"They figure out how to operate this system in a matter of days," King said this week during a Merops demo. Within two weeks, soldiers can "effectively destroy enemy drones. So it takes more than six months or a year to study."
