Ukraine’s Drone War Innovation Spotted at US Army Training Base in California

A handheld drone-detection device visually matching Ukraine’s Obriy 1.3 system was observed during a US Army training exercise at Fort Irwin, California.

According to Defense Blog on June 6, photographs from an October 2025 training rotation at the National Training Center showed troops using a device labeled “BlackSky Guardian-1.”

The outlet reported that the system’s physical design, antenna layout, and overall configuration closely resemble the Obriy 1.3, a drone detector developed by Ukrainian company Kara Dag Technologies.

The US Army has not publicly confirmed the identity of the device or its connection to the Ukrainian-made system. According to Defense Blog, original markings visible on the device appeared to have been covered, making definitive identification impossible based solely on publicly available imagery.

According to Defense Blog, the Obriy 1.3 has been widely deployed in Ukraine since 2023 and is designed to detect FPV, DJI, and Autel drones operating across multiple frequency bands.

The system can reportedly identify drone signals at ranges of up to 2 kilometers while providing directional information to the operator. The detector also supports vibration alerts, spectrum analysis functions, and video interception of analog FPV feeds.

The report noted that the appearance of the device coincided with the Army’s “Transforming in Contact 2.0” training activities at Fort Irwin, where US forces were evaluating new technologies related to drone warfare and counter-unmanned aerial systems.

According to Defense Blog, the National Training Center has become a key location for testing emerging capabilities as the US military adapts lessons learned from modern conflicts, including Russia’s war against Ukraine.

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War in Ukraine

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The report further highlighted Kara Dag Technologies’ partnership with US defense company Anduril Industries, announced in March 2026.

According to Defense Blog, the cooperation combines Kara Dag’s drone radio-frequency signature database with Anduril’s software and defense integration capabilities, potentially creating new opportunities for Ukrainian-developed counter-drone technology within the US defense sector.

Earlier, the US Army conducted its first platoon-level live-fire validation of FPV drones in May 2026, integrating the American-made Neros Archer system into infantry training at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. The exercise reflected growing US efforts to adopt battlefield lessons from Ukraine, where FPV drones have become a key tool for reconnaissance, targeting, and precision strikes at the tactical level.

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