The US Army is drawing valuable lessons from Ukraine’s use of drone warfare during a training exercise in southern Germany, as part of its efforts to modernise military tactics and respond to rapidly changing battlefield technology.
At the Hohenfels training base in Bavaria, US soldiers are testing new methods influenced by Ukraine’s use of drones in its ongoing conflict with Russia. Both Ukrainian and Russian forces have deployed drones for surveillance and strikes, making traditional tactics of hiding and ambush increasingly obsolete. Brigadier General Steve Carpenter, overseeing the training, noted that in Ukraine, “It’s a transparent battlefield. You stop, you die,” highlighting the dangers of remaining static in an environment under constant drone surveillance.
The increased use of drones in Ukraine has prompted changes in the way the US military operates. Army Chief of Staff General Randy George explained that the US Army is looking to make its units smaller, more mobile, and harder to target. During the exercise, the 3rd Brigade of the 10th Mountain Division moved its battle headquarters four times in just nine days, with only around 20 personnel at any one time, far fewer than in previous conflicts such as those in Iraq and Afghanistan, where command posts were often staffed by 100 or more soldiers.
“The most important lesson we’ve learned from Ukraine is the speed with which we need to change,” General George said. He stressed that the army must be more flexible, adaptive, and responsive to rapidly evolving threats.
US Military Faces Industrial Challenges
Alongside tactical changes, the US military is looking to speed up its procurement processes to keep pace with the technological advances observed in Ukraine. At Hohenfels, new transport trucks were tested just three months after General Motors was asked to adapt a civilian vehicle for military use. However, scaling up drone production remains a significant challenge.
While Ukrainian and Russian forces have relied on inexpensive, off-the-shelf Chinese drones, the US is wary of becoming reliant on a potential adversary, particularly amid growing tensions with China. The US defence industry, which once led global arms production, has significantly shrunk in recent decades. According to the Department of Defence, the number of people employed in US defence industries dropped by 63.5% between 1985 and 2023.
Colonel Dave Butler, communications adviser to General George, admitted that the US faces difficulties matching the scale of drone production seen in China. “American industry doesn’t have the ability to produce drones like the Chinese,” he said. Butler further suggested that, in the event of war, only one person in the US could potentially meet the demand for mass drone production: Elon Musk. “If we had to suddenly flick on a switch and make 10,000 drones a month, only Elon could do it,” he said, referring to Musk’s ability to rapidly scale production at Tesla.
Collaborative Effort Needed
Technology adviser Alex Miller emphasised the need for an American industrial base capable of producing key drone components, such as flight controllers and cameras, to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers. However, he also stressed that this effort must be a collaborative one, involving NATO allies, particularly those in Europe. “It can’t just be us, it’s got to be Europe too,” Miller stated.
As drone warfare continues to evolve, the US Army is under pressure to adapt swiftly and maintain its technological edge, while facing the challenges of modern defence manufacturing.
