- Category
- World
US Builds Ukraine-Inspired Training Zones to Prepare for Drone-Dominated Future Battlefields
Prefer U24 Media on Google
- Authors
![Photo of Katherina Popilnichenko]( "Photo of Katherina Popilnichenko")
-c439b7bd9030ecf9d5a4287dc361ba31.jpg "Photo of Katherina Popilnichenko")
The United States military plans to build at least two specialized training grounds within its borders designed to accurately replicate the high-tech, electronic combat conditions of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
US Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll confirmed the initiative during a media briefing, explaining that the new sites will simulate complex environments heavily impacted by electronic warfare, according to CBS News on June 23.
We bring you stories from the ground. Your support keeps our team in the field.
These domestic facilities will model a setting with electronic warfare "and all elements of combat confrontation." The training grounds will also host drone manufacturers and developers of counter-unmanned aerial systems, bridging the gap between technological innovation and active service members.
"Additionally, we want soldiers to be able to undergo training there, improve their skills, and work hand-in-hand with developers," Driscoll stated.
According to Driscoll, while the United States already operates facilities capable of conducting various military trials, defense officials are also evaluating options to establish an additional site outside the country. The Army Secretary noted that this international location would be reserved for "much more aggressive testing," specifically focusing on hypersonic systems.
Current US military training for countering unmanned aerial vehicles often lacks integration with electronic suppression measures due to strict legal limits on domestic signal jamming.
The new project seeks to address these training gaps by constructing dedicated environments that mirror the actual technological challenges seen on European frontlines.
During a training exercise at Fort Irwin, California, US Army troops were observed using a handheld drone-detection device that closely matched Ukraine’s Obriy 1.3 system.
Labeled as the "BlackSky Guardian-1" during the October 2025 rotation, the system's physical design and configuration resembled technology developed by Ukrainian company Kara Dag Technologies. This Ukrainian system had been widely deployed since 2023 to detect and intercept FPV and commercial drone signals.
The appearance of this device coincided with the military's "Transforming in Contact 2.0" activities, highlighting growing Pentagon efforts to integrate battlefield lessons and electronic warfare innovations from Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine into American tactical training.
Discuss this article:
-457ad7ae19a951ebdca94e9b6bf6309d.png)
