The recent annual American military exercises held in the Bavarian foothills highlight the growing relationship between US and Ukrainian forces. American troops are integrating drone capabilities and tactics learned from Ukraine, which has effectively utilised drone warfare against Russian forces in its ongoing conflict.
Brig. Gen. Terry Tillis, who leads the US Army training unit in Germany, reported that they have 1,900 drones that incorporate innovations derived from Ukrainian efforts. The Associated Press gained rare access to the training exercises, revealing how the US is collaborating with Ukraine.
This cooperation is increasingly important as the US responds to Iranian drone attacks in a conflict that has lasted over six months. While there is consensus on the need to incorporate drones into military operations, Army leaders still need to determine how to structure ground forces for effective drone warfare.
An Army official said units are integrating one-way attack drones down to the company level, underscoring the need for more than simply adding drones to existing infantry roles.
Large exercises like Saber Junction, which takes place for nearly four weeks in August and September in Germany, help facilitate this integration. The 173rd Airborne Brigade is the primary unit managing the US forces during these exercises.
US soldiers to Ukraine to learn pioneering drone warfare
Brigadier General Tillis said that some soldiers from the brigade were sent to Ukraine earlier this year to learn about drone warfare, which Ukraine has excelled in since Russia’s invasion in February 2022. During Army exercises, Ukrainians collaborated with US forces, advising and assisting in the use of drone technology. Around a dozen Ukrainian military personnel participated in the exercises in Germany, sharing insights on electronic and drone warfare.
Anthony Miller, the Army’s chief technology officer, reported that roughly 50% of the 173rd Airborne Brigade’s engagements during the exercise began with drone contact. However, the Army has recently seen the departure of key leaders who supported these drone initiatives.
In April, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth replaced General Randy George with General Christopher LaNeve. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, an ally of George, also left his position earlier this month. Adam Telle has been appointed as the acting Army Secretary.
US Army disbands drone unit amid technology debates
A couple of weeks before Driscoll’s departure, LaNeve ordered a smaller unit within the 173rd Airborne Brigade, which had been experimenting with drone warfare, to stop its efforts and return to a traditional infantry role after nearly a year. Although the Army claims this was always the plan, previous leadership had expected the battalion to continue its specialised work.
The disbanding of this unit might seem like a setback for drone initiatives, but an Army official noted that its long-term viability was unclear. Both the specialised unit and collaboration with Ukrainian forces aim to help the Army conceptualise its operations rather than replicate Ukraine’s methods.
Ukraine has integrated drones extensively into its military, creating a branch called the Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) specifically for drone operations. The US Army’s chief technology officer has also advised against centralising drone expertise within a single unit.
“We’ve pushed back on having something like a drone corps since its inception because our theory of the case is if you centralise that in one place, what you lose is the ability to actually scale that learning and send that out to the rest of the Army,” Miller told reporters Wednesday.
Miller cited the 173rd Airborne Brigade’s performance in Germany as proof that drone integration across the Army was the right decision.
This article used information from The Associated Press.
