Download the full document here: No. 26-1120, Eyes on the Horizon: Honing Counter Drone Skills in Eastern Europe (Feb 26) [PDF – 2.9 MB]
“In a situation where seconds determine survival, C-sUAS training isn’t just preparation, it’s a measurement of readiness. We must be ready to counter the evolving threat of unmanned systems…to dominate the skies.”
– 173rd IBCT (A) UAS subject matter expert.
Introduction
Observations from the Russia-Ukraine War have revealed emergent tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) in the employment of small-unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS), which have proliferated across the battle space. Russian sUAS have become a significant and persistent factor in protection considerations for Eastern European nations, particularly bordering Ukraine. The rapid employment of sUAS compresses the decision-making cycle to mere seconds, rendering traditional centralized air defense approval processes ineffective at the tactical edge. Consequently, the training environment in future U.S. Army Europe and Africa exercises must replicate the compressed decision cycles and complex threat environments seen in Eastern Europe, ensuring tactical leaders have both the tools and the authority to act decisively.
Numerous drone incursions from the Russia-Ukraine War have spilled over into neighboring countries. These incursions have heightened concerns over unexploded ordnance (UXO), particularly in Moldova’s southern regions: Cahul, L?pu?na, and Tighina which are near the Ukraine border. UXO threats in these regions raise concerns about public safety and regional security. These challenges and concerns are not unique to Moldova but are prevalent across NATO’s Eastern Flank Deterrence Line, underscoring the need for enhanced counter small-unmanned aircraft systems (C-sUAS) capabilities and regional collaboration. This publication provides insights on how U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF) units plan and execute C-sUAS training along with lessons learned from exercise Fire Shield ’25 executed in Moldova in August 2025.
Background
USAREUR-AF leadership plans to conduct C-sUAS activities in exercises to build readiness with subordinate units, integrate emergent technologies, and exchange best practices with Allies and partners. However, host nation legal frameworks governing radio frequency (RF) jamming often constrain full replication of real-world, non-kinetic defeat operations across many established training areas in Western Europe during peace time. Partner nations, like Moldova, that formerly belonged to the U.S.S.R., are optimum locations to conduct C-sUAS training because of drone incursion threats that bleed over from the Russia-Ukraine War. These threats have created a regulatory environment that allows C-sUAS equipment to operate and a host nation appetite for electronic warfare (EW) focused training. As a result, the 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) partnered with the 2nd Moldovan Brigade to conduct C-sUAS training as part of the Moldovan annual exercise Fire Shield ‘25 from 4-14 August 2025 at the Bulboaca Training Area in Moldova.
By CPT Madison Fuentes, CPT Saundra Johnson, Scott Safer, Samuel Flaming
