Lt Col Ben Irwin-Clark, CO of 1st Battalion, Irish Guards, told Soldier his troops had pieced together the hub at their Aldershot camp using kit donations from friends in the tech industry.
They also called on the specialist skills of their own personnel, such as a computer building hobbyist.
Located in Mons Barracks, the set-up includes a room with a 3D printer, various repair apparatus and first-person view (FPV) drone simulator software.
Next door, a hangar has been transformed into a close-quarters battle zone (shown) where UAS can be flown or Airsoft games played – including in downtime.
A guardsman’s old car destined for scrap, and unwanted nets from south coast fishermen, were among the other items gathered.
“The only thing that cost anything was the £16 clock on the wall,” the officer said.
The Micks – experts in infantry combat including anti-tank warfare and reconnaissance – have been working hard to integrate drones following a stint on Operation Interflex last year.
Lt Col Irwin-Clark said his troops’ willingness to embrace new tech had been “unreal” following the time they spent with Ukrainian FPV pilots.
“I used to walk my spaniel on our training area in the evenings and look up to see our young people in their windows, headphones on and gaming. I would think ‘shame’ – but now I think ‘great, I need you to use those skills to get your 60 hours of online flying’.
“At the start of Interflex we had ten or 15 qualified UAS pilots – and now that’s nearer 70.
“There are 276 people in this unit – so around 25 per cent of us are qualified.”
As well as getting hours clocked on the simulator, the hub allows new parts to be printed with ease. This means troops can hammer time in the CQB area without fear of broken kit halting proceedings.
Gdsm Luke Heffernan said the doorstep facility was helping him adjust to new tactics fast.
“We have to be so different now in terms of how we move,” he said. “It’s a new challenge completely. With drones you can always be seen – there’s no hiding.”
The CO added: “The Guards are at the forefront of modernisation, and it pleases me a unit sometimes thought of as terribly stuffy is actually at the vanguard. We’re not finding much pushback, either. For the first time in 20 years, little is being chucked in my way in terms of policy etc.”
