Operation Return of the Condor, held on August 27, 2025, at Fort Hood, Texas, has emerged as a pivotal milestone in the U.S. Army’s tactical adaptation to drone threats on the modern battlefield. Designed as a full-spectrum combat simulation, the exercise integrated small unmanned aircraft systems into live maneuver operations involving M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles. This effort marked a deliberate shift from passive drone defense to active, integrated countermeasures within armored formations.
A small unmanned aircraft system flies above a moving M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle during Operation Return of the Condor at Fort Hood, Texas, on August 27, 2025, as part of a live-force exercise focused on integrating counter-drone systems into U.S. Army armored warfare tactics. (Picture source: U.S. DoD)
The tactical focus of the Operation Return of the Condor centered on evaluating how drone surveillance and strike threats affect mechanized ground units during movement and in contact. The exercise introduced multiple layers of electronic warfare, including radio frequency detection, passive radar sensing, and jamming capabilities, directly embedded into operational formations. These systems were tested in real time as Bradleys maneuvered across varied terrain under simulated drone observation and engagement, replicating conditions now regularly encountered in modern conflicts.
Rather than isolating counter drone measures within air defense units, the exercise emphasized their integration into maneuver elements. The Bradleys operated as both offensive assets and mobile counter drone platforms, supported by sensor nodes positioned across the battlespace. This distributed detection network was designed to provide 360-degree coverage against low, slow, and small drone threats, while preserving freedom of maneuver and tactical momentum. Each detection asset was linked to digital command systems, enabling rapid decision-making and synchronized response across units.
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