NATO tests a new counter-drone system using Ukraine's combat experience

Ukraine's experience in countering drones is already being used to develop new solutions for NATO. This demonstrates that Ukraine is not only receiving support from its partners but is also actively shaping their approaches to modern warfare.

The Alliance is currently focused on developing a system to counter unmanned aerial vehicles. To support this effort, NATO Allied Command Transformation (ACT) has launched the Layered Counter UAS Initiative, known as LCI-X, under which a series of exercises is being conducted.

Ukrainian JATEC experts enhance the realism of NATO exercises 

During the second phase of the exercise, held in Finland, the focus shifted from testing individual counter-drone technologies to testing how they can be integrated into a single system. Sensors, command-and-control systems, tactical cells, and response options were integrated into a single system operating under realistic jamming and spoofing conditions.

Ukrainian JATEC experts were assigned a key role in the exercise: enhancing realism and providing advice based on combat experience during the development and execution of the adversary scenario.

During the exercise, JATEC experts helped develop the Red Team scenario for fixed-wing drones and FPV multirotor drones. They also participated in executing the scenarios and directly supervised the FPV drone crews.

The defending team practiced detecting, identifying, and tracking targets, conducted virtual intercepts, and tested the transmission of this information to the command post.

Ukraine is shaping its partners' approaches to countering UAS

Approximately 10 companies from various countries presented their solutions. During the exercise, NATO evaluated solutions from multiple manufacturers for detecting, identifying, and intercepting targets, as well as their real-time data-sharing capabilities. 

The next phases of the LCI-X exercise will focus on integration with NATO's air command and control systems, as well as cross-border operations.

Ukraine is not only receiving support from its partners in countering drones but is also shaping how they approach this challenge. This experience is already helping partners accelerate the development of counter-UAS technologies and tactics.

As previously reported, JATEC experts helped bring the Eastern Phoenix 26 exercise in Romania closer to modern battlefield conditions.

Photo credits: press service of NATO Allied Command Transformation (ACT)