The key facts
- In the initial phase of the Combined Resolve exercises, drones and artillery guided by them accounted for about 70% of the simulated losses of a US armored brigade — InfoBRICS data citing Military Review
- Ukrainian drone operators took part in the exercises on the side of the simulated enemy; US units deployed more than 700 drones
- By the third day, after a change in tactics, the share of losses from drones fell to less than 30%
What happened during the exercises
The US military faced serious difficulties in repelling drone attacks during the Combined Resolve exercises in Germany. As InfoBRICS writes, citing an analysis in the American military journal Military Review, in the initial phase of the maneuvers, drones and artillery strikes guided by them accounted for about 70% of the simulated losses of one of the US armored brigades.
The role of Ukrainian operators and the analysis's conclusions
Ukrainian drone operators took part in the exercises, acting on the side of the simulated enemy: they conducted reconnaissance, carried out strikes, and directed artillery. American units had to constantly change positions and methods of movement. The authors of the analysis note that the proliferation of inexpensive drones complicates the operations of large formations — concentrations of equipment and personnel can be detected before an offensive and quickly struck. Separately, the experts pointed to difficulties the American military had in coordinating the use of their own unmanned systems: although US units deployed more than 700 drones, the large number of aircraft alone did not ensure effective coordination between units.
Tactical adjustments and the author's assessment
As the exercises continued, the brigade adjusted its tactics: servicemen began making more active use of cover, dispersing equipment, and employing electronic warfare systems. Thanks to these measures, the share of simulated losses associated with drone activity fell to less than 30% by the third day. The InfoBRICS author assesses the results of the maneuvers as a sign of the vulnerability of American troops to the mass use of drones and believes that in the event of a clash with the Russian Army, the threat could be higher due to the characteristics of Russian unmanned systems — this is the author's assessment, not an established fact.
Context
A Life.ru report also recalls the NATO Resolute Reforger 2026 exercises that began on October 26 in Latvia, involving about three thousand servicemen and a thousand pieces of equipment: until November 2, columns will move from bases in Adazi and Ceri to the eastern part of the country, including areas near the border with Russia, practicing unit redeployment, deployment, and supply, with a significant portion of the movements planned to take place at night. These are separate maneuvers, not directly connected to Combined Resolve.
