As U.S. and Thai soldiers engaged in a simulated firefight in the Cobra Gold exercise in Phu Lam Yai on Saturday, March 1st, troops called out an unexpected threat from above – a coordinated 드론 군집. About a dozen unmanned aircraft in tight formations appeared on the horizon, their rotor noise alerting soldiers to the simulated aerial threat, according to Stars and Stripes.
Reacting quickly, a four-man fire team from the 4th Infantry Division out of Fort Carson, Colo., deployed a Dronebuster – a handheld device designed for electromagnetic drone mitigation using RF signals. As the drones closed in, the operator aimed and fired, sending bursts of electromagnetic interference skyward. Some drones faltered, reversing course mid-flight. In real combat, these systems would likely be disabled entirely, falling from the sky.
Capt. Tyler Schultz, an observer coach and trainer from the 196th Infantry Brigade at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, observed the team’s response. The Dronebuster used during the drill was a prototype, he explained, refined from an existing system. While it succeeded in forcing some drones to retreat, others slipped through the defensive perimeter. Those that made it past the countermeasures triggered simulated explosions near the troops –a reminder of how fast a drone swarm can overwhelm counter-UAS defenses.
“Identification of these drones is a huge challenge, as well as getting that … Dronebuster operator in the right spot to actually be effective,” Schultz said.
The unpredictability of drone swarms requires constant vigilance and rapid response, making real-world training like Cobra Gold essential for preparing soldiers to handle these emerging threats.
The swarm struck twice during the exercise, with each wave testing the soldiers’ ability to detect, identify and neutralize the threat. For Schultz and his team, the lessons extended beyond just the technical use of the Dronebuster. Successful defense required coordination, quick decision-making and the ability to adapt to rapidly changing conditions.
Countering the swarm threat in real-world conditions
Maj. Paul Hanneman, operational planner for the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, stressed the importance of training under harsh conditions.
“This is exactly the arena that we train in, so we can fight in a similar arena,” he said. “That’s why we’re over here in Thailand, where it’s hot, it’s remote, it’s rugged.”
The intense environment tested the soldiers’ physical endurance as much as their tactical readiness. With temperatures soaring past 100 degrees and humidity levels pushing the limits, even basic operations became physically exhausting. At least two U.S. troops suffered heat-related illnesses during the exercise, a reminder that environmental factors can be just as formidable as an enemy force.
“It’s one thing to train to counter [drones] in an air-conditioned room with field support techs nearby,” Hanneman said. “It’s another thing to do so under sleep deprivation, when there’s language barriers at play and it’s remote.”
Beyond the physical strain, soldiers faced the challenge of operating alongside multinational forces. Cobra Gold involves approximately 8,000 troops from 30 countries, each with its own protocols and communication styles. In a real combat scenario, coordination across these lines becomes critical, especially when faced with fast-moving threats like drone swarms.
An evolving threat on the battlefield
Over the past five years, unmanned systems have transformed conflict zones from Ukraine to the Red Sea and Israel, offering adversaries a low-cost, high-impact way to strike targets and gather intelligence. The increasing role of drones in modern warfare makes exercises like Cobra Gold more critical than ever.
Drones are a direct and persistent threat to frontline forces. Swarm technology, in particular, poses a unique challenge by overwhelming air defenses and exploiting gaps in radar coverage. Military planners recognize that future battlefields will feature even more autonomous systems, making counter-drone tactics a priority.
As the Cobra Gold exercise moves toward its conclusion, the lessons learned will likely shape future training and technology development. For now, soldiers like those from the 4th Infantry Division continue to refine their skills, knowing that the next time they face a drone swarm, it may not be a drill.
관련 콘텐츠: US Army Colonel pursues ‘holy grail’ of HEL Systems to counter Group 3 UAS
Post Image – A U.S. soldier tests the Dronebuster handheld jammer (Post Image Credit: 미 육군)
