Ukrainian Drones vs. U.S. Armored Vehicles: Who Won the Exercises?

U.S. and Ukrainian military personnel conducted joint exercises in Germany, practicing scenarios that closely resembled real combat conditions. One of the scenarios demonstrated the vulnerability of traditional units to the mass deployment of drones: Ukrainian operators were able to detect American forces and armored vehicles and simulate their destruction. This was reported by Dengi.ua , citing a report by The Wall Street Journal.

The Combined Resolve exercises took place earlier this year. They involved approximately 3,500 U.S. service members, who were tasked with attacking the positions of a simulated enemy at an army training range. In this scenario, the defense was reinforced by Ukrainian service members from the 412th Regiment "Nemesis" of the Unmanned Systems Forces.

According to the publication’s sources, Ukrainian operators were able to locate U.S. units and armored vehicles - deployed as part of a rotation from Fort Hood, Texas - fairly quickly. The U.S. side, meanwhile, used standard electronic warfare systems and other means of defense against drones.

Nevertheless, U.S. officials reported that during one of the exercises, the Ukrainian military “simulated” the destruction of an entire U.S. armored brigade. According to a participant in the exercises, the heavy equipment kicked up dust as it moved, making it easier for reconnaissance drones to detect it. Once targets were identified, drones carrying explosives and FPV drones joined the attack.

During the scenario, the American equipment was destroyed so quickly that the organizers had to reintroduce it into the exercises as new simulated units. One U.S. official familiar with the maneuvers noted that the equipment effectively had to be “restored” in order to continue training operations.

U.S. units practiced this scenario for two weeks. A U.S. Army spokesperson noted that as the exercises continued, the troops began to show improved results. They started to deploy their forces more effectively, camouflage their equipment, and employ electronic warfare measures.

Midway through the exercises, Ukrainian service members switched sides in the simulated confrontation and began assisting the American units. Their task was to demonstrate more effective ways of using unmanned technologies during offensive operations.

For the U.S. Army, the Combined Resolve exercise served as further evidence of just how important Ukraine’s experience in modern warfare using drones is. Other NATO armies have faced similar situations as well.

According to sources, last May, Ukrainian drone operators also outperformed their British, Estonian, and other NATO counterparts - including U.S. service members - during exercises in the Baltics.

In addition, this spring, the Swedish military conducted joint training exercises with NATO allies, where Ukrainian drone operator teams also demonstrated superior results.