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PA National Guard Wins Army Drone Innovation Competition with AI Drone Recovery System
28th Infantry Division team's Project R.E.D. features AI-powered drone retrieval capabilities
Published on Feb. 23, 2026
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A team of Pennsylvania National Guard Soldiers from the 28th Infantry Division secured a win at the U.S. Army's inaugural Best Drone Warfighter Competition, taking the top prize in the innovation category. Their winning project, Project R.E.D. (Recovery Exploitation Drone), features a drone equipped with AI-enabled object-recognition software to identify and recover downed drones using a robotic arm with a claw.
Why it matters
The success of Project R.E.D. highlights the growing importance of drone recovery as a key component of modern military operations. The ability to retrieve and analyze downed drones offers a significant intelligence advantage and could potentially reduce reliance on costly drone replacements.
The details
The 28th Infantry Division's winning innovation team comprised 1st Lt. Ryan Giallonardo, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Reed, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Nathan Shea, and Sgt. 1st Class Brent Wehr. Their Project R.E.D. is designed to identify and recover downed drones - both friendly and enemy - using a robotic arm with a claw, 3D-printed from carbon fiber. The recovered drones can then be used for intelligence gathering or repair.
- The competition was held February 17-19, 2026 at the Huntsville Test Range in Huntsville, Alabama.
- Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll presented the winning team with plaques at the awards ceremony on February 19, 2026.
The players
28th Infantry Division
A unit of the Pennsylvania National Guard that competed in all three events of the Best Drone Warfighter Competition.
1st Lt. Ryan Giallonardo
A member of the 28th Infantry Division's winning innovation team for Project R.E.D.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Reed
The team captain of the 28th Infantry Division's winning innovation team for Project R.E.D.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Nathan Shea
A member of the 28th Infantry Division's winning innovation team for Project R.E.D.
Sgt. 1st Class Brent Wehr
A member of the 28th Infantry Division's winning innovation team for Project R.E.D. and also competed in the tactical squad category.
What they’re saying
“This is a great achievement for the team and the UAS facility as well as the Pennsylvania National Guard as a whole. Competing against the entire Army, putting in the work and coming out on top really speaks volumes to what the team has been doing.”
— Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Reed, Team Captain
What’s next
The 28th Infantry Division team received an Army Research Lab drone prototype and a one-year research and development agreement. This agreement will allow the division to work with the Army Research Lab on further design improvements to Project R.E.D., likely leading to refinement of the drone's capabilities and potential integration into Army systems.
The takeaway
The success of Project R.E.D. in the Army's inaugural drone competition demonstrates the Pennsylvania National Guard's innovative approach to drone technology and its potential to reshape battlefield tactics and intelligence gathering through AI-powered drone recovery systems.
