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SOCOM and SOUTHCOM Leaders Seek Expanded Training Ranges and Authority
Commanders of U.S. Special Operations Command and U.S. Southern Command stated this week that they need additional ranges and regulatory flexibility to train for contested environments. Both leaders described current restrictions on drone flights and electromagnetic spectrum use as limiting realistic preparation for modern combat threats.
May 21, 3:18 PM·1m read1 source
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U.S. Special Operations Command said Tuesday that his forces require new ranges and policy changes to rehearse operations in contested electromagnetic environments. Adm. Frank Bradley spoke at SOF Week in Tampa, Florida. U.S. regulations limit control of the electromagnetic spectrum and that the Federal Aviation Administration restricts drone altitudes even over military bases.
He added that neither funding nor policy currently supports the development of more advanced training facilities. U.S. Southern Command made similar comments the following day. Gen. Frank Donovan said his command lacks ranges that allow full use of current systems and described the need to close civilian roads and obtain special approvals before conducting drone flights across training areas.
Both commanders pointed to existing federal rules as barriers to realistic preparation. Bradley said SOCOM's budget has remained flat since 2019, making it difficult to fund the more sophisticated ranges required for integrated force training. Donovan described the practical effects of those limits, including the need to halt traffic whenever a drone must cross a public road.
He said these steps are especially burdensome when training in communications-denied conditions. The Pentagon has previously stated it is working with the Federal Aviation Administration to increase flexibility for base defense activities. Bradley said further policy adjustments will be needed to support broader contested-environment training.
