Activation of F Company, 1st Attack Battalion, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade is scheduled at Hangar, 802 Marshall Dr, Fort Riley at 2:00 p.m., Friday, Jan. 23.
The Army said that this activation signifies a new chapter in Army aviation with the introduction of a Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System – Launched Effects (TUAS-LE) company within the 1st Attack Battalion, led by Captain Paul Shorkey-Chacon and 1st Sergeant Adam Schuetz.
The activation brings a new level of lethality and reach to the Gunfighter Battalion, effectively extending the eyes and ears of Apache pilots, allowing them to detect, identify, and engage threats long before they enter the enemy’s weapons engagement zone.
The Soldiers of Fox Company are tasked with a mission that did not exist a decade ago. They will operate systems designed not just for surveillance, but for "Launched Effects," deployable assets that can confuse, disable, or destroy adversary defenses autonomously or under the control of aviation crews.