US Congress demands explanation for winding down drone battalion that studied Ukraine's experience
A bipartisan group of American lawmakers is demanding that US Army leadership explain the decision to wind down an experimental drone battalion in Europe created to study modern warfare and Ukraine's combat experience. Congressmen worry that the unit's elimination will deprive American troops of the ability to quickly adopt Ukrainian drone innovations.
The letter was sent to Acting Chief of Staff of the Army General Christopher LaNeve and Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll. It was signed by Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Republican Senator Thom Tillis, Independent Senator Angus King, and Republican Representative Mike Turner, reports Stars and Stripes.
Lawmakers expressed "deep concern" over the decision to change the unit's specialization. They believe this could limit the US Army's ability to absorb lessons from Ukraine and other allies at a time when the role of drones on the battlefield is rapidly growing.
The congressmen demand a briefing no later than September 21 and request data, analysis, and the procedure for the decision to wind down the battalion less than a year after its creation.
Separately, lawmakers want to know who initiated the decision: US Army command directly or Pentagon leadership.
"The elimination of this battalion contradicts" the need to learn faster, innovate, and adapt to modern warfare, the letter's authors stressed. In their view, the decision degrades the ability of American troops to gain critically important knowledge and skills while interacting with Ukrainian forces.
The unit in question is the Unmanned Assault Battalion within the US Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade, headquartered in Vicenza, Italy. The unit was created in January 2026 with about 600 personnel. Its mission was to develop new concepts for drone use and adapt the American Army to changes demonstrated by Russia's war against Ukraine.
In August, General LaNeve ordered the 173rd Brigade to return its primary focus to airborne infantry functions. The drone battalion itself is to be gradually wound down.
Kurs Ukraine previouslyreportedthat the decision was part of the US Army command's new "back to basics" approach, under which traditional infantry training is once again given higher priority. Meanwhile, the unit had already worked on tactics for employing strike and reconnaissance drones, ground robotic systems, and other solutions based on Ukrainian combat experience.
Before its final disbandment, the battalion is still scheduled to participate in exercises in Germany in September and present the results of its work.
Congress is also demanding an explanation of how the US Army, after eliminating the specialized unit, plans to continue systematically studying Ukrainian military experience in employing unmanned systems.
The debate comes amid changes in US Army leadership. Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll, who was an active proponent of rapid adoption of drones, robotics, and other new technologies, has announced his resignation. Earlier, in April, Chief of Staff of the Army General Randy George, who also pushed for accelerated technological modernization of ground forces, lost his post.
