
Ukrainian drone operators managed to "eliminate" a United States armored brigade during a military exercise in Germany, the Wall Street Journal reports.
The Combined Resolve exercise, held in April and May, pitted United States military troops against Ukrainian drone operators.
According to people familiar with the developments, quoted by the newspaper, Ukrainian units easily located and neutralized American troops and armored vehicles in the simulation.
About 3,500 U.S. service members participated in the exercise, primarily from the 3rd Armored Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division. Opposing them were the opposing training forces, reinforced by operators from the Ukrainian 412th Unmanned Systems Regiment, “Nemesis.”
According to the report, the heavy American armored vehicles raised large amounts of dust while moving, making them easily visible to Ukrainian reconnaissance drones.
After identifying targets, the Ukrainians used drones that simulated the dropping of explosives and FPV drones, which in real combat conditions collide directly with the target.
"Ukrainian drone operators eliminated a U.S. armored brigade during the exercise," the Wall Street Journal reported, citing U.S. officials briefed on the developments and a participant.
The simulated strikes were so rapid that, according to one American official, the "eliminated" vehicles had to be brought back into play as new units so that the training could continue.
However, American performance improved over the two weeks of the simulation. Troops began to disperse and camouflage better, as well as to use electronic warfare more effectively.
In the middle of the exercise, the Ukrainians switched sides and helped the Americans use drones in offensive operations.