Ukrainian experts from the NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training and Education Centre (JATEC) provided advice on countering uncrewed aerial system (UAS) attacks during a NATO exercise in Latvia this month.
The LCI-X Crucible 3-26 Execution exercise, part of Exercise Baltic Trust, brought together more than 1000 military personnel from 25 NATO countries and Ukraine. The third phase of the LCI-X series focused on testing and integrating counter-UAS (C-UAS) capabilities in support of NATO’s Eastern Flank.
JATEC experts contributed to the exercise design by providing input based on current battlefield experience, including adjustments to UAS flight parameters. During the active phase, they also monitored and coordinated opposing-force crews to ensure that simulated UAS flights followed the planned threat profiles.
The latest LCI-X phase moved beyond testing individual C-UAS warfare cells to integrating multiple cells across tactical formations and into NATO command-and-control systems.
The Ukrainian Defence Ministry said the involvement of Ukrainian personnel with combat experience is intended to help align NATO experimentation with current battlefield realities while supporting interoperability between Ukraine and NATO. This follows previous involvement by Ukrainian service personnel in NATO wargaming, including the Vistula Vanguard 26 exercise, where their experience was used to improve the realism of simulated drone, electronic warfare and reconnaissance scenarios.
For more information
Ministry of Defence of Ukraine
(Image: Ministry of Defence of Ukraine)
The 2026 Unmanned Airspace Global Counter-UAS Systems Directory is now available. The guide is the world’s only comprehensive, continually updated directory of global C-UAS companies and systems. It itemises over 1,000 C-UAS products and services with performance details, company sales and partnerships arrangements. It is updated every month and broken down into niche sub-sectors (net-capture, missiles, intercept drones, detectors etc) to give C-UAS procurement and industry personnel a unique perspective of global C-UAS technical capabilities and market positions. It is available in word, PDF and excel formats and Unmanned Airspace readers are eligible for a range of discounts. For more information about the Directory please contact the editor Philip Butterworth-Hayes at philip@unmannedairspace.info.