US to Build Training Grounds Simulating Ukrainian Theater to Save on Interceptors
World
Rethinking the strategy of prolonged military confrontation and adapting to the concept of a war of attrition have forced the US defense establishment to shift its focus from manufacturing exclusively ultra-expensive weapon systems toward developing affordable, mass-produced countermeasures against unmanned aviation. Within the next four to six weeks, the US Army will establish at least two specialized training grounds domestically, designed to fully simulate the conditions of the Ukrainian theater of military operations.
According to Secretary of the US Army Dan Driscoll, these sites will serve as integration hubs for electronic warfare (EW), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and tactical counter-drone systems.
The necessity for such facilities is driven by the colossal volume of drone deployment; according to estimates by the US Army Strategic Threats Office, Russia manufactures up to 5,000 strike drones and roughly 600,000 small FPV drones monthly. Driscoll emphasized that utilizing Patriot or THAAD missiles costing $4–5 million each to intercept low-cost UAVs is economically unsustainable. The Army intends to solicit proposals for low-cost interceptor munitions and is considering the procurement of Ukrainian military technologies. Additionally, the Pentagon is formulating a classified blueprint for a large-scale international test site to conduct broader evaluations, including hypersonic weapons testing.
The necessity for such facilities is driven by the colossal volume of drone deployment; according to estimates by the US Army Strategic Threats Office, Russia manufactures up to 5,000 strike drones and roughly 600,000 small FPV drones monthly. Driscoll emphasized that utilizing Patriot or THAAD missiles costing $4–5 million each to intercept low-cost UAVs is economically unsustainable. The Army intends to solicit proposals for low-cost interceptor munitions and is considering the procurement of Ukrainian military technologies. Additionally, the Pentagon is formulating a classified blueprint for a large-scale international test site to conduct broader evaluations, including hypersonic weapons testing.
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