During the “Combined Resolve” exercises in Germany, Ukrainian drones racked up so many “kills” against American vehicles that they were allowed to “respawn” to keep the exercise running. 

Ukrainian drone operators repeatedly “wiped out” an entire US armored brigade in simulated exercises taking place in Europe earlier this year, according to recent media reports.  

The results of the exercise illustrate the massive advantage Kyiv has developed over many Western militaries in modern warfare expertise—and raise concerns about the readiness of US frontline units to operate effectively on the battlefield.  

Ukrainian Drones Took on US Troops—and Won 

In April and May, the United States and other NATO nations participated in the “Combined Resolve” exercises in Germany. Also invited to the exercises was Ukraine’s 412th Regiment of Unmanned Systems Forces, nicknamed “Nemesis.” 

The Ukrainian drone operators went up against the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, consisting of nearly 3,500 troops. The US Army unit also operated M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks, M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs), M109 Paladin self-propelled 155mm howitzers, and tactical wheeled and support vehicles. 

With such a powerful array of vehicles at its disposal, one might assume that the US unit made short work of its Ukrainian counterparts. In fact, as The Wall Street Journal reported, the situation was precisely the reverse.

At first, the Ukrainians used reconnaissance drones to locate and pinpoint the US armored vehicles. This they achieved by tracking dust trails created by the movement of the tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, as well as by looking for heat signatures.  

Thereafter, kamikaze drones swept in ready to “kill.” These drones included small unmanned aerial systems dropping explosives and first-person view (FPV) drones attacking US targets.  

The ensuing battle was a (simulated) bloodbath. According to the report, the Ukrainian drone operators were racking up “kills” in the exercise so quickly that the umpires had to allow “destroyed” US armored vehicles to “respawn” in order to keep the training running!

US Troops Learned Something from the Drone Exercises

At the end of the day, not all was lost for the demoralized Americans. The US troops adapted to the grim realities of drone warfare, adjusting their tactics, techniques, and procedures, and incorporating tactical countermeasures to counter the kamikaze drone menace.  

At some point during the exercise, a contingent of Ukrainian drone operators also switched sides and joined the US Army unit, which thereafter performed far more effectively.

Shocking as the sight of US troops losing in battle might be to many in America accustomed to US military dominance, the reality is that in some aspects of warfare, the US military no longer holds an absolute advantage. Tactical drone operations are such an aspect of warfare. The Ukrainians have mastered drone warfare as a result of the ongoing conflict with Russia.  

If properly heeded, the lessons learned from the Ukrainian drone operators during Exercise Combined Resolve will help the US military become a more effective force on the modern battlefield.  

America’s Adversaries Are All Practicing Drone Warfare

Drones are an integral part of modern warfare—as US troops are learning in the ongoing war against Iran.

Since the US first launched “Operation Epic Fury” in February, the Iranian military and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have launched thousands of one-way attack unmanned aerial systems against US and allied targets. Several US soldiers have lost their lives during these attacks, highlighting the danger posed by kamikaze drones even against the strongest military in the world with the most advanced air defense systems.  

Not all is lost. Exercises like the one between the Ukrainian drone operators and the US Army armored brigade offer the ideal opportunity to live up to the maxim: “The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in war.” 

About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou   

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University, an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), and a JD from Boston College Law School. His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.

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