Ukrainian drone operators completely wrecked NATO drill scenario, Politico reports
Photo: Ukrainian troops demonstrate drone power to NATO during drills (Getty Images)
During exercises in Sweden, Ukrainian drone operators were so effective at destroying a simulated enemy that part of the scenario had to be restarted three times, Politico reports.
According to a 24-year-old drone operator from central Ukraine with the callsign Tarik, his group of 17 soldiers used drones to strike simulated enemy forces. As a result, Swedish troops had to restart part of the exercises three times.
"We had a mission with a scenario with … up to 20 battle tanks attacking in a mechanized assault," he said.
According to Tarik, the simulated enemy had no chance of staying unnoticed from the air.
"I just flew with my drone — I saw all of them, so it was easy targets," the serviceman said.
NATO acknowledged the value of Ukraine’s drone warfare experience. According to an Alliance representative, NATO allies have much to learn from Ukraine, especially in the use of drones, given the possibility of a future war in Europe.
The US military is also adopting the drone experience of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. In particular, the US Army is learning to identify drones by sound, following Ukraine’s example of building networks of acoustic sensors to detect UAVs as they approach.
