Britain’s elite paratroopers are sharpening the Army’s response to one of modern warfare’s greatest threats, enemy drones.
Soldiers from 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment joined forces with the US Army’s 2nd Cavalry Regiment in Lithuania for Exercise Flytrap, a major battlefield test of the latest counter-drone technology and tactics.
The exercise placed British and American troops in intense mock combat scenarios, with reconnaissance and strike drones constantly overhead, reflecting the realities of modern conflict seen in Ukraine.
Major John Bryning, Officer Commanding A Company, 3 PARA, said drones had transformed the battlefield.
“Drones present two threats on the battlefield, it is a lot harder to remain undetected and, once you’ve been found, you can expect to be targeted very quickly and precisely,” he said.
“Exercise Flytrap is a test for us after a lot of work to understand how drones are being used in Ukraine and developing countermeasures that align with how we fight.”
Cpl Aaron J Stone UK MOD © Crown copyright 2026
British troops trialled a range of cutting-edge equipment designed to detect, track and destroy hostile drones.
Among the systems used were body-worn radio frequency detectors capable of identifying drone control signals, alongside the Cortexa Guardian miniature radar system.
To neutralise airborne threats, paratroopers deployed electronic “drone guns” which jam enemy control signals, while specially equipped rifles used the AI-powered SMASH sight system, technology that tracks and predicts a drone’s movement before allowing a shot to be fired only when a hit is likely.
Major Bryning said the exercise highlighted how traditional infantry skills remain vital even in an age of rapidly advancing technology.
“We’re trying to make ourselves less visible using camouflage and concealment, dispersing troops, and exploiting weather conditions, and that is applying basic soldiering skills to a new problem,” he said.
The exercise pitted British light infantry soldiers moving on foot against heavily armed US forces mounted in Stryker armoured fighting vehicles. Both sides alternated between attacking and defending positions while attempting to outmanoeuvre each other’s drone operations.
“We’re taking on a larger and more heavily armed US unit, and everyone has embraced the competitive nature and is trying to win,” Major Bryning added.
“We’ve been able to really test our kit and tactics in high tempo and pressurised scenarios with the constant presence of drones.”
US Army First Lieutenant Joshua Pugh described the joint training as both “rewarding and enjoyable”, saying both armies were learning valuable lessons from each other.
“Drones are a new threat, and no army has the right answer to countering them yet,” he said.
“We’ve each defeated the other’s drones, but also each got through the other’s defences. Doing training like this, and experimenting and learning together, is how we’re going to get better.”
The exercise forms part of a wider British Army effort to prepare for the changing nature of warfare.
16 Air Assault Brigade, the Army’s global response force, is leading the development of British tactics for fighting with and against drones, with 3 PARA at the forefront of counter-drone operations.
Specially trained to deploy by parachute, helicopter and air landing, the brigade maintains forces at extremely high readiness, capable of responding rapidly to crises and combat operations around the world.
The close cooperation with US forces also reflects growing military interoperability between Britain and its NATO allies as Western armies adapt to the challenges of twenty-first century warfare.
Images: MOD Crown Copyright News / Editorial Licence.
