The Norwegian Army has taken a unique approach to drone warfare training by using tennis balls to simulate explosive payloads during NATO’s Joint Viking 2025 exercise. The drills, which took place in Northern Norway, tested soldiers’ ability to detect, evade and counter modern drone threats in an evolving battlespace.
The exercise incorporated drone swarms and FPV drones, tactics that have been widely observed in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Operators maneuvered FPVs in dive attack patterns to mimic real-world drone strikes, while tennis balls served as stand-ins for munitions. According to Maj. Tor Sellevold of the Norwegian Army’s Combat Lab, the exercise was designed to provide participating forces with insights into their aerial visibility and vulnerabilities.
“To simulate attacks on participating forces, tennis balls were dropped and FPVs were flown in dive attack patterns to simulate modern-day drone threats,” Sellevold said. “The purpose was to provide insights to the participants of their own aerial signature, experience the threat from top-attack drones and evaluate their standard operating procedures.”
More than 30 tennis balls were dropped across ten FPV sorties, marking the first time the Norwegian Army has conducted such large-scale drone attack simulations. Soldiers had to quickly adapt by improving camouflage, dispersing into smaller groups and employing deception tactics to avoid detection. Sigurd, the Army’s head of drones, noted that the difference in soldier responses over the course of the exercise was significant.
“The same people we exposed to drone threats in the first days made a lot of improvements,” Sigurd said. “When we came back, we noticed an incredibly big difference. They have done a great job, and I would especially like to highlight the Combat Training Battalion.”
Norway is closely monitoring Ukraine’s battlefield innovations in drone warfare, particularly as drones become increasingly effective at striking armored vehicles and even aircraft. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense recently announced the Drone Line project, which aims to establish a 15-kilometer unmanned “kill zone” along the front lines using a mix of reconnaissance and attack drones. Norwegian defense officials are keen to integrate lessons from Ukraine into their own military planning.
The Norwegian Army is also looking to acquire new drones optimized for Arctic conditions, featuring advanced long-range cameras for extended surveillance capabilities. Unlike frontline units, the military intelligence battalion plans to operate drones from greater distances, enhancing battlefield awareness without direct engagement. During Joint Viking, the U.S.-made Puma drone, manufactured by AeroVironment, was among the surveillance assets deployed.
With drones becoming a dominant force in modern warfare, the Norwegian Army’s latest training exercise highlights the growing importance of counter-drone tactics and adaptation in military strategy.
Post Image Credit: Norwegian Armed Forces
