Ukrainian Troops Train U.S. Army on Drone Warfare

The U.S. Army is using exercises in Germany to incorporate drone and electronic-warfare lessons from Ukraine, whose forces have relied heavily on unmanned systems against Russia. About a dozen Ukrainian personnel advised the 173rd Airborne Brigade during the drills, while U.S. soldiers also traveled to Ukraine to study battlefield tactics; the brigade used roughly 1,900 drones, and about half of its exercise engagements reportedly began with drone contact. Army leaders are still debating how to organize ground forces for a battlefield where drones are ubiquitous, including whether to maintain specialized drone units or distribute capabilities throughout conventional infantry formations. The Army’s decision to return an experimental drone battalion to a traditional airborne-infantry role reflects its stated preference for decentralized drone expertise, though lawmakers and other critics worry the shift could slow modernization. The effort has gained urgency as the United States seeks to prepare for conflicts involving intensive drone use, including Iranian attacks.