Archive · 13 Aug 2026
US Troops Outplayed by Ukrainian Drone Units in Drill
Soldiers from the United States and Ukraine practiced fighting together in a pretend battle in Germany.
The Ukrainian soldiers were very good at flying small remote-controlled machines called drones.
Drones are like flying robots that can take pictures or carry things.
The Ukrainian drone teams kept finding the US soldiers and their big armoured vehicles.
In these practice games, if a drone gets close enough, a target is considered 'destroyed,' even though nobody is really hurt.
The US soldiers were found and 'destroyed' so many times that the game organizers had to bring the US vehicles back over and over.
This showed that the US military needs more practice protecting itself from drones.
Ukrainian soldiers have learned a lot about drones because they have been fighting a war with Russia for years.
As the exercise was repeated, US troops got better at hiding, spreading out, and using special equipment to stop drones.
US Army troops were repeatedly spotted and 'destroyed' by Ukrainian drone operators during the Combined Resolve military exercise in Germany, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
Around 3,500 US personnel, mainly from the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, took part in the drill held in April and May.
Ukrainian troops from the 412th Regiment of Unmanned Systems Forces, known as Nemesis, joined the exercise and supported the opposing force.
Ukrainian operators were so effective that US vehicles had to be repeatedly 're-spawned' to keep the exercise going.
US forces improved over repeated drills by dispersing their forces, concealing movements and using electronic warfare and counter-drone systems.
- Who
- US troops, mainly from the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, and Ukrainian drone operators from the 412th Regiment of Unmanned Systems Forces (Nemesis).
- What
- Ukrainian drone units repeatedly detected and 'destroyed' US troops and armoured vehicles during the Combined Resolve military exercise.
- When
- April and May, earlier this year (2026); the report was published around August 13, 2026.
- Where
- Germany.
- Why
- The drill highlighted that American forces have less experience operating and countering battlefield drones than Ukrainian forces, who gained that experience from years of fighting Russia.
- Report Source
- The Wall Street Journal
- Exercise Name
- Combined Resolve
- Location
- Germany
- Timing
- April-May 2026; reported August 13, 2026
- US Participants
- Around 3,500 personnel, mainly from the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team
- Ukrainian Unit
- 412th Regiment of Unmanned Systems Forces (Nemesis)
- Key Finding
- US vehicles had to be repeatedly 're-spawned' to keep the exercise going
- Expert Comment
- Eliot Cohen (CSIS): 'It is vital that the US military master that'