Ukrainian drones defeat US tank brigade in war game
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Ukrainian drone operators wiped out a 3,500-strong US armored brigade in Germany war games.
The drill exposes how drones dominate modern battlefields, challenging US tank strategy.
Background
The war game, called Combined Resolve, took place in April and May 2026 in Germany. Ukrainian forces from the 412th 'Nemesis' Regiment of Unmanned Systems Forces faced a US armored brigade from the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. The exercise was designed to test US forces against drone tactics that have proven decisive in the Russia-Ukraine war. The results highlight a growing gap between US conventional armor and cheap, effective drone warfare.
How it unfolded
- Apr-May 2026During the Combined Resolve exercise in Germany, Ukrainian drone operators repeatedly destroyed a US armored brigade, forcing equipment to be 'respawning' as new units.
- Aug 13, 2026The Wall Street Journal reported the results, noting US forces improved later in the exercise by using camouflage, dispersal, and electronic countermeasures.
- Aug 14, 2026Multiple outlets (Euromaidan Press, Kyiv Post, TechRadar) covered the story, highlighting the Pentagon's struggle to adapt to drone warfare.
Who’s saying what
- US Officers
- Some US officers argue drones dominate only because the front barely moves, and maneuver warfare would revive the tank.
- Zaluzhnyi
- Ukraine's former commander-in-chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi argues drones have frozen maneuver for now, explaining the static eastern front.
- Eliot Cohen
- Defense expert Eliot Cohen says it is vital for the US military to master drones, but 'unfortunately, that does not seem to be the case.'
Still unverified
The exact number of 'kills' and the full extent of US losses in the exercise are not specified in the material.