Drones, electronic warfare, reconnaissance: Ukrainian military boosts the realism of NATO wargaming
The Ukrainian military continues to strengthen its partnership with NATO by organising and conducting joint wargames and training.
This month, the NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training and Education Centre (JATEC) co-organised the Vistula Vanguard 26 wargame. This was the first iteration of the wargaming project, organised together with the NATO Joint Force Training Centre (JFTC).
The role of Ukrainian defenders in the VIVA26 wargame
The VIVA26 wargame focused on assessing developments in modern warfare and was based on real-world insights from the battlefield. Thanks to this, the project enhances the realism of future Alliance military exercises.
The realism of the wargame was ensured by Ukrainian military personnel with combat experience. Their areas of responsibility, and the expertise they brought to the exercise, covered:
- UAV operations;
- electronic warfare;
- reconnaissance;
- engineering training.
The Ukrainian experts shared the latest findings from the battlefield in Ukraine and enabled participants to review and stress-test selected NATO planning assumptions, procedures, and exercise scenarios against realistic threats.
Improving NATO command post exercises
By ensuring the participation of Ukrainian military personnel in NATO exercises, JATEC contributes to interoperability between the Alliance and Ukraine.
Vistula Vanguard is part of a series of wargames designed to support and enhance NATO command post exercises such as LOYAL LEDA and LOYAL DOLOS.
The Ministry of Defence previously reported that NATO is testing a new counter-drone system drawing on Ukraine’s combat practices.
Photo courtesy of the press service of the NATO Joint Force Training Centre (JFTC)