Ukrainian Drone Teams Claim a Standout Victory
At the Combined Resolve exercises in Germany earlier this year, Ukrainian drone crews defeated U.S. forces in a major encounter. Roughly 3,500 American soldiers from Fort Hood, Texas, took part in the drills, while Ukraine was represented by personnel from the 412th Regiment of the Unmanned Systems Forces, also known as Nemesis. U.S. units arrived with the standard electronic-warfare gear and drone-countering tools, yet Ukrainian reconnaissance drones still located their convoys and carried out bombing runs against them.
The same drill scenario played out repeatedly over two weeks. Once beaten, the American units that followed changed their tactics: they kept wider spacing, made greater use of camouflage, and relied more heavily on electronic warfare. Ukrainian operators also took the opportunity to teach their U.S. counterparts how drones can be employed in offensive operations. “It is essential for the U.S. military to master this, and unfortunately, that does not yet seem to be happening,”
said Eliot Cohen of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
What the Ukrainian Experience Demonstrates
This was not the first time Ukrainian operators had the upper hand. In May of last year, Ukrainian drones bested British, Estonian, and other NATO forces, including the American contingent, during exercises in the Baltic region. This spring, they also outperformed Swedish troops who were training alongside alliance partners. For their part, U.S. Army Rangers managed to shoot down only 15% of FPV drones during live-fire drills.
Collectively, these results suggest the United States remains under-prepared for a new era of drone-centric battle, and that military training and unit readiness need to evolve. An American infantry officer who had been helping Ukrainian forces developed a training syllabus that later spread to other army units. Along with Combined Resolve, the Baltic drills and the Swedish exercise were part of a broader series of events that have become opportunities for sharing expertise between countries.
In short, the outcomes underline the need to adjust to new challenges on the battlefield and to integrate innovative technologies into military planning.
Combined Resolve and similar war games show how large unmanned systems have become in modern conflict. They also serve as a reminder that allied militaries, especially the U.S. military, must refine their skills in this area to stay competitive. For defense planners worldwide, the Ukrainian operators’ victories may be an important signal that new technologies are capable of shifting the balance on the battlefield. Western militaries, in particular, now face a pressing question about how quickly they can close this gap.
These exercises highlight a growing trend in which Ukraine's drone manufacturing capabilities surpass those of the U.S. This shift in technological advantage raises important questions about the preparedness of American forces in the evolving landscape of modern warfare.