The Ukrainian combat system DELTA made a successful debut during NATO's anti-drone exercises held from September 10 to 20 in Vredepeel, Netherlands, gathering over 450 participants from 22 countries.
The exercises tested more than 60 various systems and technologies for countering drones. The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine's Innovation Center, which develops advanced counter-drone concepts, showcased the combat experience gained from using DELTA.
"At the anti-drone exercises, we are not just testing technologies but also demonstrating the combat experience of DELTA, which has been achieved at great cost. Participation in such events allows us to refine tactics and training while sharing knowledge with partners. The successful application of DELTA at these exercises further proves that Ukraine has significant potential in developing military technologies," commented Kateryna Chernohrenko, Deputy Minister of Defense for Digital Transformation.
The DELTA combat system served as one of the key platforms for planning the exercises and tracking the current locations of "enemy" and "friendly" drones. Experts from the Ministry of Defense's Innovation Center demonstrated the identification of friendly drones using the UA DRONE ID protocol. This joint project of the Ministry of Defense, Cossack Labs, the public organization "AeroRecon," and the Ministry of Digital Transformation ensures secure data exchange between drones and combat systems, including DELTA.
During the exercises, the VECTOR reconnaissance drone, produced by the German company Quantum-Systems, flew six missions daily, successfully integrating through UA DRONE ID.
Additionally, Ukrainian military personnel:
- Integrated DELTA with partner systems, enabling the receipt of information about the aerial and ground situation and identified targets in the air.
- Broadcast drone movements in real-time, providing situational awareness to all exercise participants.
- Utilized the Mission Control module for mission planning of drone pilots during the anti-drone combat scenarios.
NATO considered the proposals from the Ministry of Defense's Innovation Center, incorporating the use of FPV drones into the training program, along with scenarios involving friendly drones and mass drone attacks.
Participants noted the capabilities of the DELTA system in countering drones and emphasized the importance of Ukraine's military experience in strengthening the collective security of partners. NATO representatives plan to continue collaborating with the Ministry of Defense's Innovation Center team and invite them to join future events.
The participation of the Ukrainian delegation in the exercises took place within the framework of the NATO-Ukraine Innovative Cooperation Roadmap.
