The Pentagon has sent US military personnel to Ukraine to study how drones are used in real combat conditions, as Washington seeks to incorporate Ukraine’s battlefield experience into its own military strategy.
US War Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the deployment during a Senate committee hearing, saying the US aims to adopt Ukraine’s expertise in countering unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and advancing drone warfare capabilities, Caliber.Az reports, citing Ukrainian media.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell described Ukraine as the “Silicon Valley of war” and asked whether Hegseth supports visits by Pentagon officials to gain operational experience on the ground.
Hegseth confirmed the practice and said he had personally approved additional deployments.
“In fact, I’ve personally approved additional personnel there to learn from that drone battlefield, both on offense and defense, to ensure that we’re learning every possible lesson from that conflict and incorporating it in real time into how we defend and we go on offense in an era where drone dominance is required,” he said.
He added that the initiative is closely tied to US investment in unmanned systems.
“Take the lessons learned from Ukraine and other battlefields and ensure we’re applying them throughout the fighting force as quickly as possible,” Hegseth said.
Senator Chris Coons also highlighted Ukraine’s role as a global leader in drone warfare, noting its rapid advances in both drone development and counter-drone systems. He pointed to the threat posed by low-cost, mass-produced Iranian “Shahed” drones and said Ukraine has already developed effective responses that could inform US defense planning.
Hegseth came under increased pressure in Congress earlier this week, with lawmakers questioning billions in military spending related to the war with Iran and calling for greater clarity on US strategic objectives.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is reportedly preparing to deploy what has been described as the world’s first “drone wall” developed by Atreyd — a system involving dozens of small drones designed to form a defensive barrier against Shahed drones and guided aerial bombs.
By Vafa Guliyeva
