Solar Powered K1000 Drone Enhances US Army Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance in Philippines
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According to information published by the U.S. Army on May 29, 2025, soldiers from the 1st Multi-Domain Task Force (1st MDTF), under U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC), deployed a K1000 drone during Exercise Salaknib 25 at Fort Magsaysay, Philippines. This operation follows earlier trials of the system during Exercise Balikatan 2024. For the first time in this context, soldiers operated the drone independently as part of the JPMRC-X initiative, an exportable Combat Training Center program designed to enhance interoperability among allied forces through realistic and complex training scenarios.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The integration of the K1000 reflects a broader effort by the U.S. Army to field persistent ISR and electronic warfare systems that enhance operational reach and resilience (Picture source: US DoD)
The K1000, developed by Kraus Hamdani Aerospace, is a solar-powered, ultra-long-endurance drone integrated within the Multi-Domain Effects Battalion (1 MDEB) of the 1st MDTF. Measuring three meters in length with a five-meter wingspan, the drone is capable of flying up to 20,000 feet and covering distances of 1,000 miles. According to the manufacturer, the K1000ULE is the longest-endurance, fully electric, zero-emissions autonomous aircraft in its size and weight category. Weighing between 21 and 55 pounds, it has demonstrated the ability to remain airborne for over 76 hours, setting a record within the class 2 UAS category.
The aircraft features solar panels integrated into its wings, allowing it to recharge its lithium-ion batteries while in flight. It is equipped with a folding propeller and 3D-printed skids that can be replaced in the field. Kraus Hamdani Aerospace describes the drone as capable of mimicking natural flight through onboard artificial intelligence, enabling it to glide silently and efficiently like a bird while generating clean energy. This aerodynamic efficiency and stealth profile make it difficult to detect by radar or sensors, providing a distinct advantage in contested environments.
During Salaknib 25, the K1000 conducted area, route, and zone reconnaissance missions, transmitting live data to command teams. These capabilities supported the development of a detailed tactical picture in real time. This latest iteration of JPMRC-X, the second executed in the Philippines, is part of the broader U.S. strategy to reinforce its presence and training partnerships in the Indo-Pacific through multinational engagement.
Prior to this deployment, the Extended Range and Sensing Effects (ERSE) Company within 1 MDEB conducted training with the K1000 as part of the Static Focus 3 exercise. Soldiers practiced assembling and operating the modular aircraft in support of simulated joint force operations. These trials emphasized the relevance of AI-enabled aerial systems in operational contexts where conventional aerial platforms may be limited by geography or susceptible to electronic disruption.
The integration of the K1000 reflects a broader effort by the U.S. Army to field persistent ISR and electronic warfare systems that enhance operational reach and resilience. In regions characterized by denied or degraded communications, platforms such as the K1000 are viewed as critical enabling situational awareness and maintaining secure data flows across multi-domain operations.
Kraus Hamdani Aerospace first demonstrated the K1000’s capabilities in 2023. Its use in exercises like Balikatan, Project Convergence, and now Salaknib illustrates its increasing relevance within the U.S. Army’s modernization strategy. The deployment of this platform reinforces the Army’s transition toward flexible, autonomous, and energy-efficient ISR solutions capable of sustaining joint operations over vast and complex terrains.
The deployment of the K1000 drone during Salaknib 25 illustrates a shift in how the U.S. Army applies unmanned aerial technologies to enhance tactical intelligence and operational resilience. As the service continues to evolve toward persistent, AI-supported surveillance and communication tools, the K1000 stands as a representative example of future ISR capabilities suited to Indo-Pacific mission profiles.
{loadposition bannertop}
{loadposition sidebarpub}
According to information published by the U.S. Army on May 29, 2025, soldiers from the 1st Multi-Domain Task Force (1st MDTF), under U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC), deployed a K1000 drone during Exercise Salaknib 25 at Fort Magsaysay, Philippines. This operation follows earlier trials of the system during Exercise Balikatan 2024. For the first time in this context, soldiers operated the drone independently as part of the JPMRC-X initiative, an exportable Combat Training Center program designed to enhance interoperability among allied forces through realistic and complex training scenarios.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The integration of the K1000 reflects a broader effort by the U.S. Army to field persistent ISR and electronic warfare systems that enhance operational reach and resilience (Picture source: US DoD)
The K1000, developed by Kraus Hamdani Aerospace, is a solar-powered, ultra-long-endurance drone integrated within the Multi-Domain Effects Battalion (1 MDEB) of the 1st MDTF. Measuring three meters in length with a five-meter wingspan, the drone is capable of flying up to 20,000 feet and covering distances of 1,000 miles. According to the manufacturer, the K1000ULE is the longest-endurance, fully electric, zero-emissions autonomous aircraft in its size and weight category. Weighing between 21 and 55 pounds, it has demonstrated the ability to remain airborne for over 76 hours, setting a record within the class 2 UAS category.
The aircraft features solar panels integrated into its wings, allowing it to recharge its lithium-ion batteries while in flight. It is equipped with a folding propeller and 3D-printed skids that can be replaced in the field. Kraus Hamdani Aerospace describes the drone as capable of mimicking natural flight through onboard artificial intelligence, enabling it to glide silently and efficiently like a bird while generating clean energy. This aerodynamic efficiency and stealth profile make it difficult to detect by radar or sensors, providing a distinct advantage in contested environments.
During Salaknib 25, the K1000 conducted area, route, and zone reconnaissance missions, transmitting live data to command teams. These capabilities supported the development of a detailed tactical picture in real time. This latest iteration of JPMRC-X, the second executed in the Philippines, is part of the broader U.S. strategy to reinforce its presence and training partnerships in the Indo-Pacific through multinational engagement.
Prior to this deployment, the Extended Range and Sensing Effects (ERSE) Company within 1 MDEB conducted training with the K1000 as part of the Static Focus 3 exercise. Soldiers practiced assembling and operating the modular aircraft in support of simulated joint force operations. These trials emphasized the relevance of AI-enabled aerial systems in operational contexts where conventional aerial platforms may be limited by geography or susceptible to electronic disruption.
The integration of the K1000 reflects a broader effort by the U.S. Army to field persistent ISR and electronic warfare systems that enhance operational reach and resilience. In regions characterized by denied or degraded communications, platforms such as the K1000 are viewed as critical enabling situational awareness and maintaining secure data flows across multi-domain operations.
Kraus Hamdani Aerospace first demonstrated the K1000’s capabilities in 2023. Its use in exercises like Balikatan, Project Convergence, and now Salaknib illustrates its increasing relevance within the U.S. Army’s modernization strategy. The deployment of this platform reinforces the Army’s transition toward flexible, autonomous, and energy-efficient ISR solutions capable of sustaining joint operations over vast and complex terrains.
The deployment of the K1000 drone during Salaknib 25 illustrates a shift in how the U.S. Army applies unmanned aerial technologies to enhance tactical intelligence and operational resilience. As the service continues to evolve toward persistent, AI-supported surveillance and communication tools, the K1000 stands as a representative example of future ISR capabilities suited to Indo-Pacific mission profiles.
