The U.S. Army recently concluded Arcane Thunder 25, a sprawling live-fire exercise designed to test and refine its deep sensing and multi-domain operational capabilities. The event, which spanned locations in Poland, Germany, and Arizona from May 11 to 27, showcased the integration of uncrewed systems, advanced data sharing, and international allied cooperation.
Multi-Domain Operations on Display
Led by the 2nd Multi-Domain Task Force under the 56th Artillery Command, Arcane Thunder 25 served as a critical proving ground for the Army’s evolving warfighting doctrine. Maj. Gen. John Rafferty, commanding general of the 56th Artillery Command, described the exercise as a “premier training event.” He emphasized its role in testing the task force’s ability to operate across all domains, identify targets at significant distances, and engage them with both “kinetic” (munitions) and “non-kinetic” (electronic warfare, cyber) effects.
A key focus was empowering soldiers, sergeants, and lieutenants to experiment with cutting-edge equipment and develop best practices for its employment. “Our soldiers, our sergeants and our lieutenants are the ones who have their hands on this equipment, who are determining the best way to employ it,” Rafferty stated, highlighting that their feedback is directly influencing capability development and operational tactics. The insights gained are also shaping the transformation of Rafferty’s command into a multi-domain command in Europe over the coming months.
Uncrewed Systems Take Center Stage
Collaboration with the Navy saw the deployment of USVs to test multi-domain concepts, aligning with the Pentagon’s broader Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control (CJADC2) strategy. This initiative aims to seamlessly connect the sensors, shooters, and information networks of all U.S. military branches and their international partners.
Col. Patrick Moffett, commander of the 2nd Multi-Domain Task Force, explained the significance of the USV integration. “It’s really trying to perfect the ability to transition from the littoral domain to the land domain,” he said. He detailed how Navy vessels identified targets, passed the information to the 2nd MDTF’s all-domain operations center, which then relayed it to Polish partners for engagement. This exercise not only tested the joint kill chain but also enhanced the Army’s understanding of maritime operations. Furthermore, the robo-boats were utilized in contested logistics scenarios, moving equipment to potentially isolated units.
Data-Driven Kill Chains and Interoperability
A major theme of Arcane Thunder 25 was the ability to “fight with live data.” Lt. Col. Aaron Ritzema, commander of the 2nd Multi-Domain Effects Battalion, noted how sensor data, including information from micro HABs, informed the use of “launched effects” like loitering munitions. This data allowed for rapid decision-making at the battalion and company levels to “close the kill chain.”
Rafferty underscored the critical achievement of transmitting live data through mission command systems across continents – from Europe to Arizona and back. He described a scenario where data from a micro HAB, refined by other platforms, was analyzed by teams in Poland and Arizona, then sent to Germany for further analysis and shooter assignment in mere minutes, a process that previously took hours. “That live data part is probably the biggest breakthrough for us, from my standpoint,” Rafferty commented.
Despite the successes, Ritzema acknowledged that integrating the various technologies and ensuring interoperability between different platforms and payloads presented significant challenges that the Army actively worked to overcome during the exercise. The lessons learned from Arcane Thunder 25 are expected to continue to shape the Army’s approach to future warfare.
