During the NATO military exercise Hedgehog 2025 in Estonia, one of the scenarios ended with the simulated “destruction” of a battle group, which included a British brigade. Ukrainian troops played the role of the enemy, using drone tactics. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing The Telegraph. PromPolitInform also reports.
Exercise Scenario and Results
More than 16,000 military personnel from 12 Alliance countries took part in the exercises. One of the scenarios simulated a modern battlefield, saturated with drones and reconnaissance assets.
According to the exercise conditions, a battle group consisting of thousands of soldiers, including a British brigade and an Estonian division, was simulatedly defeated by Ukrainian forces. According to exercise participants, the units playing the role of the enemy were able to quickly locate equipment and troop positions, after which they simulated destroying them with attack drones.
How Ukrainian forces operated
The Ukrainian team used the Delta battle management system, which allows for real-time intelligence collection, analysis using artificial intelligence, and coordination of strikes.
A small group of Ukrainian troops, simulating the enemy, conducted a counterattack and, in half a day, simulated the destruction of 17 armored vehicles, delivering approximately 30 strikes. According to exercise leaders, after this, two battalions were no longer able to continue combat operations.
Conclusions for NATO
Following the exercise, military experts noted that drones have become a key factor in modern warfare and are already determining the outcome of combat operations. Ukraine’s European allies are actively expanding drone production and adapting their own armies to drone warfare. Reports on the exercise’s results note that unmanned systems have become an integral part of ground operations, and that armies need to invest in the integrated use of drones alongside traditional equipment.
Use of DELTA
Last August, then-Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal signed an order implementing the DELTA combat system at all levels of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.
It was also reported that the DELTA system was used during joint Ukrainian-NATO exercises, where it was integrated in accordance with the Alliance’s new STANAG 4817 standard.
Previously, Shmyhal noted that the Ukrainian DELTA system became a key command and control platform for the joint team of participating countries during the NATO REPMUS 2025 exercise, ensuring the coordination of more than 100 maritime, underwater, ground, and aerial drones.
