Two Gurkhas from The First Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles (1 RGR) were awarded 3* coins for their work on the recent British Army Drone Wars 2026 Competition. This competition was all about tactical drone warfare. The event was run by 16 Air Assault Brigade, the Army’s lead formation for developing how to fight with and against drones. “This is a competition to learn to get better at fighting with drones,” says Brigadier Ed Cartwright, who helped develop the concept. “Ultimately that’s learning to get better at killing.”
Colour Sergeant Shandesh Sherchan (The First Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles) demonstrated exceptional leadership as CSM and G4 Lead during Drone Wars 2026 and the Military International Drone Racing Tournament, providing outstanding logistical support, manpower management and coordination across multiple locations. His professionalism, initiative and ability to manage complex priorities were key to the event’s success.
Sergeant Rai demonstrated outstanding leadership as Exercise Conducting Officer (ECO) for British Army Drone Wars 26 (Tactical Drone Competition) 2026. His excellent planning, coordination and effective execution ensured successful delivery of this high-profile event. His leadership, commitment, initiative and professionalism played a vital role during the competition.
