U.S. Green Berets Train Polish Special Forces in Drone-Focused Exercise Inspired by Ukraine

Polish special-forces operators are taking part in a multi-day drill at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany. The scenario has the Polish team infiltrating simulated enemy lines, traversing roughly 60 miles (100 km) of German countryside, and striking a designated target with a drone. U.S. Army airborne infantry units parachute into the same training area to act as the opposing force, while both sides employ drones to locate and engage the other team. The drill, which began on a Friday, is the first instance of a NATO ally other than the United States participating in this Green Beret-designed program.

The U.S. has begun training Polish special forces in drone tactics based on Ukraine’s experience

The training was created only months ago and draws on lessons learned by Ukrainian forces during their 4½-year conflict with Russia. A U.S. Earlier this year, the program was tested twice by U.S. special-forces teams; the current iteration adds Polish troops, marking the first such collaboration with another NATO member.

The U.S. has begun training Polish special forces in drone tactics based on Ukraine’s experience

The Polish unit must move covertly through villages, farms, and the city of Amberg—home to more than 40,000 residents—while blending in as civilians. A senior enlisted soldier familiar with the scenario explained that German civilians are largely unaware of the drill, providing a realistic test of civilian-interaction risks. If the Polish team is detected, the U.S. side can deploy additional drones or a military-police unit with dogs to hunt them. The training area spans roughly 1,100 sq mi (3,000 sq km) of Bavarian terrain, and the U.S. Army has access to over one hundred drones for the exercise.

Exclusive: US coaches Polish forces in a drone-focused drill based on lessons from Ukraine The U.S. has begun training Polish special forces in drone tactics based on Ukraine’s experience

The Green Beret officer emphasized that the training aims to “replicate” the challenges faced by both Russia and Ukraine. The senior enlisted soldier noted that the plan is to run the exercise several times a year, with the expectation that most, if not all, of the 32 NATO nations may eventually participate. U.S. officials have linked the drill to broader efforts to integrate Ukrainian expertise into NATO’s modern warfare doctrine.

The U.S. has begun training Polish special forces in drone tactics based on Ukraine’s experience

The drill underscores growing NATO interest in drone warfare and highlights cooperation among allies to counter potential Russian aggression. Recent reports of mysterious drone incursions over German military sites and a cargo airport reinforce the relevance of such training as NATO seeks to enhance readiness against emerging aerial threats.

Exclusive: US coaches Polish forces in a drone-focused drill based on lessons from Ukraine