The Americans Sent Their Armor, the Ukrainians Waited with Drones: How It Ended

US military forces faced off against Ukrainian drone operators in an exercise in Germany, and the latter managed to neutralize an American armored brigade. The exercise, Combined Resolve, took place in April-May with about 3,500 American soldiers participating. The American forces improved during the exercise, and the debate over the future of armor on the modern battlefield was reignited.

Earlier this year, US military forces faced off against Ukrainian drone operators in a military exercise in Germany, and the results revealed the vulnerability of American forces on the modern battlefield, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. The Ukrainian drone units managed to easily locate and neutralize American forces and armored vehicles during the exercise. The exercise, Combined Resolve, was held in April and May and was designed to test the ability of forces to operate and defend against small short-range drones, which have become a central tool in the war between Russia and Ukraine. About 3,500 American soldiers participated, mainly from the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Cavalry Division. Their mission was to attack a position held by an opposing force, reinforced with Ukrainian soldiers from the 412th Regiment of the Unmanned Systems Forces, known as "Nemesis." The Ukrainian drone operators effectively managed to neutralize an American armored brigade during the exercise. The American forces entered the area with heavy armored vehicles that raised dust clouds and became easy targets for reconnaissance drones. After detection, drones simulating the dropping of explosives and FPV drones arrived. The Ukrainian drones managed to "destroy" the American vehicles at such a fast pace that they had to be returned to the exercise as new units. However, over the approximately two weeks in which the scenario was repeated, the performance of the American forces improved. They learned to disperse, hide more effectively, and make better use of electronic warfare measures. Midway through the exercise, the Ukrainians switched sides and helped the American forces use drones offensively as well. The experience gained by the Ukrainian forces over nearly four and a half years of fighting Russia has made them particularly skilled in drone warfare. The exercise reignited the question of the place of tanks and armored vehicles on the modern battlefield. Some American officers believe that drones are especially lethal in the war in Ukraine because the front is almost static, and that in a maneuver war, tanks and armor will return to a central role. In contrast, Ukrainian military thinkers, including former commander-in-chief Valery Zaluzhny, argue that the development of drone technology has made traditional maneuver warfare unfeasible at this stage. The exercise in Germany is not the first time Western armies have struggled against Ukrainian experience. In May last year, Ukrainian drone operators easily prevailed in an exercise in the Baltic region over British, Estonian, and other NATO forces. Last spring, Ukrainian drone teams also outperformed Swedish and other NATO allies in an exercise led by Sweden. The American military has been working in recent years to close the gap. The US has invested billions of dollars in drone and counter-drone technologies and established dedicated units for their operation. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said in May that he had increased the number of American military personnel sent to Ukraine to learn about drone warfare. The US is also currently evaluating Ukrainian-made drones for possible purchase.