The United States is quickly adapting its military strategies in the face of new realities on the battlefield, after having tested, for the first time, scenarios directly inspired by Ukraine’s experience in the war with Russia.
According to the Defense One publication, in September 2025, the American military organized a large-scale exercise at the Eglin Air Base in Florida, as part of the “Clear Horizon” operation, where they recreated tactics similar to those used by Ukraine in the “Spider Web” operation.
Drones, the new decisive weapon
During the simulations, the American special forces used a wide range of drones — from simple commercial models to advanced systems, capable of avoiding electronic jamming and radar detection.
“They used conventional commercial drones, but also devices with directional antennas, harder to neutralize, as well as drones with automatic frequency change, resistant to electromagnetic attacks”, explained Matt Ross, coordinator of the Pentagon’s task group for combating drones.
In addition, fiber-optic and mobile network controlled drones were tested, in a scenario where operators located in the state of Colorado managed to hit targets in Florida — a first for the American military.
The lessons from Ukraine change the priorities of the USA
The exercises have revealed significant vulnerabilities. According to American officials, the army urgently needs an integrated system that connects data from radars, drones, and anti-drone systems, for a coordinated response.
At the same time, the focus is increasingly shifting towards long-range drones, capable of striking critical infrastructures – from command centers to logistics and anti-aircraft defense systems.
For small-scale threats, the solution could come from the development of interceptor drones, cheaper and more efficient than traditional defense missiles.
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