42nd Annual Best Ranger Competition
Annual US Army Rangers elite competition; 2026 edition first to integrate live FPV drones.
Last refreshed: 18 April 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Timeline for 42nd Annual Best Ranger Competition
Integrated live Powerus Matrix-T FPV drones for the first time in its history
Drones: Industry & Defence: 75th Rangers fly live Powerus FPVs at Best RangerBackground
The 42nd Annual Best Ranger Competition is the premier evaluation of Ranger-qualified soldiers in the US Army, held at Fort Moore, Georgia. The 2026 edition ran 10-12 April and marked the first time live FPV drones were integrated into a Best Ranger competition, with the 75th Rangers selecting Powerus Matrix-T platforms.
The competition tests two-person teams across physical events, weapons qualification, and tactical scenarios designed to push Ranger-qualified soldiers to their limits. Adding live drone piloting to the competition tasks signals that unmanned systems proficiency is now considered a core special operations competency alongside traditional Ranger skills.