The U.S. Army’s 1st Multi-Domain Task Force (1st MDTF) deployed the solar-powered K1000 drone during Exercise Salaknib 25, the annual training event between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the U.S. military, held at Fort Magsaysay in the Philippines.
This deployment marked the drone’s first independent operational use by soldiers in a multinational exercise.
According to the U.S. Army, the deployment took place under the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center-Exportable (JPMRC-X) program, part of a broader effort to improve interoperability with Philippine forces and modernize the U.S. Army operations in the Indo-Pacific.
According to the army release, the drone conducted reconnaissance missions during the exercise, providing real-time data to commanders.
Developed by Kraus Hamdani Aerospace, the K1000 is a solar-powered, long-endurance drone capable of flying up to 20,000 feet and traveling 1,000 miles. It is capable of remaining airborne for over 76 hours and is equipped with artificial intelligence for silent, bird-like gliding.
The U.S. Army also announced that its troops have used a Developmental Command Exportable Lab to assemble and deploy over 100 drones during the recent training.
Around 2,000 U.S. troops joined an equal number of Philippine personnel for the exercise.
Comanche Co., 2-14 CAV, 2nd Mobile BDE, 25th ID trained at Salaknib 25 in PH. 🇵🇭 JPMRC-X hones skills in real-world environments and strengthens readiness across the Indo-Pacific.
📸: Spc. O’Marra@25thID pic.twitter.com/qC0ls2uN7a
— U.S. Army Pacific (@USARPAC) June 3, 2025
