on February 13, 2026, 6:55 pm
https://archive.is/SdcJ6
Lede: A simulation of drone warfare shows how far the alliance has to go to
learn the lessons of Ukraine.
Russia and Ukraine have shown the world the future of warfare - and America and
its allies aren't ready for it. That's the lesson of a major exercise that North
Atlantic Treaty Organization members conducted in Estonia last May. What
transpired during the exercise, with the details reported here for the first
time, exposed serious tactical shortcomings and vulnerabilities in
high-intensity drone combat.
The exercise, known as Hedgehog 2025, involved more than 16,000 troops from 12
NATO countries who drilled alongside Ukrainian drone experts, including soldiers
borrowed from the front line. It simulated a "contested and congested"
battlefield with various kinds of drones, says Lt. Col. Arbo Probal, head of the
unmanned systems program for the Estonian Defence Forces. "The aim was really to
create friction, the stress for units, and the cognitive overload as soon as
possible," he says. That tests the soldiers' ability to adapt under fire.
...
During one scenario, a battle group of several thousand troops, including a
British brigade and an Estonian division, sought to conduct an attack. As they
advanced, they failed to account for how drones have made the battlefield more
transparent, several sources say. The NATO battle group was "just walking
around, not using any kind of disguise, parking tents and armored vehicles,"
recalls one participant, who played an enemy role. "It was all destroyed."
...
A single team of some 10 Ukrainians, acting as the adversary, counterattacked
the NATO forces. In about half a day they mock-destroyed 17 armored vehicles and
conducted 30 "strikes" on other targets.
...
Overall, the results were "horrible" for NATO forces, says Mr. Hanniotti, who
now works in the private sector as an unmanned systems expert. The adversary
forces were "able to eliminate two battalions in a day," so that "in an exercise
sense, basically, they were not able to fight anymore after that." The NATO side
"didn't even get our drone teams."
Ctd ...
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