Pentagon reenacts Ukraine's Spiderweb operation in secret Florida drills
US forces replicate Ukrainian drone attack methods in drills (photo: Getty Images)
The Pentagon fundamentally changes its counter-drone strategy, drawing on lessons from the war in Ukraine. Large-scale exercises were held in Florida, where mass drone attacks were simulated to test US forces, according to Defense One.
Details of Florida exercises
The outlet says during Operation Clear Horizon, at Eglin Air Force Base, special forces recreated the Spiderweb tactics used by Ukraine against Russia.
The simulation involved a wide range of systems, from small commercial drones to larger platforms resistant to electronic warfare (EW) means.
A key feature of the tests was the use of fiber-optic-controlled drones and LTE-based systems. This allowed operators to control equipment even from other US states.
US strategy shift
The results of the exercises showed that the US military needs a unified system for integrating radar data and interception capabilities. In addition, the military acknowledged the need to develop low-cost drone interceptors.
Currently, the United States often uses expensive missiles costing millions of dollars to destroy relatively cheap drones.
Brigadier General Matt Ross, who heads the Pentagon's counter-drone center, said the United States has allocated more than $600 million over the past six weeks to rapidly integrate new technologies.
"We were over in Ukraine about six weeks ago, talking to the Unmanned Systems Forces... Then we've looked at those most promising technologies and we referenced their performance data in Ukraine instead of internal department testing and evaluation," Ross said.
According to him, the development of autonomous systems is progressing much faster than annual budgets are formed, creating new security challenges.
Spiderweb operation
In June 2025, Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) carried out a unique operation dubbed Spiderweb, during which four Russian military airfields deep in the country's rear were mass-attacked. As a result of the strike, the enemy lost about 40 strategic aircraft.
SBU chief Vasyl Malyuk later revealed details, noting that the airfields were struck simultaneously across three time zones.
The scale and boldness of the operation impressed the international community. In particular, US Senator Richard Blumenthal compared Spiderweb to the American operation to eliminate Osama bin Laden, highlighting the high level of skill of Ukraine's special services.
