Ukrainian drones overwhelm US armored brigade during Combined Resolve exercise in Germany

The exercise and its participants

The Combined Resolve 26-07 exercise ran from 9 April to 10 May 2026 at the Hohenfels training area in Bavaria, Germany. Organised twice a year by the US Army, the multinational drill is designed to prepare forces for large-scale ground operations against an adversary with modern weaponry. Roughly 3,500 American soldiers took part, primarily from the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team "Greywolf" of the 1st Cavalry Division, based at Fort Hood, Texas. Their mission was to assault fortified positions defended by opposing forces, who were reinforced by Ukrainian drone operators from the 412th Regiment for Unmanned Systems, known as "Nemesis", a unit with extensive combat experience from the front.

How the drones dominated

The American brigade arrived equipped with standard electronic warfare systems and counter-drone measures, but these provided little protection. Advancing armored vehicles raised large dust clouds that Ukrainian reconnaissance drones spotted from a distance, revealing the direction of the attack. Once individual vehicles were located, Ukrainian operators deployed strike drones carrying explosive charges and FPV (First Person View) drones. In the exercise's rules, a vehicle was judged "destroyed" if a drone hovered above it or approached close enough for an effective attack. The Ukrainians accomplished this so quickly that eliminated units had to be "revived" and reintroduced into the exercise so it could continue, according to US officials and a participant who spoke to the Wall Street Journal.

Gradual American improvement

Over the two-week exercise, the US brigade's performance improved. American forces learned to disperse their troops more effectively, camouflage vehicles, and use electronic warfare tools more skillfully. Ukrainian operators also helped the Americans use their own drones more efficiently for offensive purposes. A source cited by the Wall Street Journal noted that newer mobile brigades equipped with next-generation equipment and modern tactics achieved far better results during the exercises. Despite the improvement, the gap between Ukrainian drone expertise and American readiness remained clear throughout.

Expert warnings and broader context

Eliot Cohen, a researcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), told the Wall Street Journal that drones of all kinds are indispensable for modern warfare.

“It is vital that the US military master this kind of conflict, but so far that unfortunately does not seem to be the case.”

The Combined Resolve experience is not the first signal for US and NATO forces. Ukrainian drone operators had previously achieved better results against British, Estonian, and other NATO forces, including a US contingent during exercises in the Baltic region. The Pentagon has made drone combat a priority and is currently testing Ukrainian drones for potential acquisition. Ukraine became the first country in the world to establish a separate military branch dedicated exclusively to unmanned systems, the Unmanned Systems Forces (USF), created in 2024. The unit integrates aerial FPV drones, unmanned maritime vessels, and ground-based robotic systems for assault and logistics.