Ukrainian experts from the Joint Analysis, Lessons Learned and Best Practices Centre (JATEC) supported NATO forces during counter-drone exercises in Latvia, sharing battlefield experience from russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.
Ukrainian specialists took part in the LCI-X 3-26 Execution exercise, the third stage of an experimental series focused on testing and integrating modern counter-unmanned aerial vehicle solutions in support of NATO’s eastern flank.
The exercise was held in Latvia this month as part of Exercise Baltic Trust and involved more than 1,000 military personnel and specialists from 25 NATO member states and Ukraine. The scale of the event allowed participants to test counter-drone capabilities in a multinational environment.
Unlike earlier stages, the latest LCI-X iteration went beyond testing individual counter-UAV components. Participants practiced integrating multiple capabilities at the tactical level and connecting them with NATO command-and-control systems.
russian Shehed drones / open source
JATEC experts contributed their experience from combat against russian drones to make the exercise scenarios more representative of modern warfare. Before the active phase began, Ukrainian specialists provided recommendations for the exercise scenario and helped adjust the parameters of simulated UAV threats.
In particular, Ukrainian experts helped develop more realistic drone flight profiles based on their observations and battlefield experience. This included adjusting flight routes and other threat parameters to better reflect the way unmanned systems are used in actual combat.
During the exercise itself, JATEC personnel monitored and coordinated crews playing the role of a simulated adversary. They ensured that the teams followed designated routes, flight plans and threat parameters, allowing NATO participants to test their counter-drone systems under more realistic conditions.
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