US Army phases out drone battalion in Europe created from lessons of the war in Ukraine

The US Army is gradually phasing out an experimental drone battalion in Europe, created in early 2026 to work out combat employment of unmanned aerial vehicles and ground robotic systems based on the experience of Russia's war against Ukraine.

The unit was formed in January to study changes on the modern battlefield and develop new tactics to counter the Russian threat. However, after major exercises in Germany in August and September, the battalion is to conclude its experimental mission, The Wall Street Journal reports.

According to a US Army spokesperson, the unit will pass the test results to command for use in future experiments. After that, it will give up its role as a specialized drone battalion and return to core airborne infantry missions.

The decision is part of a broader push to return to basic combat tasks promoted by Acting Chief of Staff of the US Army General Christopher LaNeve. The drone battalion was one of the key experimental projects of his predecessor, General Randy George, whom Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth fired in April.

The phase-out of the specific battalion, however, does not mean the US is abandoning unmanned technologies. US forces continue to test counter-drone systems and study Ukrainian combat experience. In particular, the US Army earlier stated directly that the mass use of FPV drones in the war in Ukraine forced it to change approaches to training and protection of units.

Based on materials from: The Wall Street Journal, U.S. Army