The US Air Force has carried out a week-long counter-drone exercise at Hurlburt Field in Florida, testing a layered defence model that combines AI-assisted detection, electronic warfare and a final close-range kinetic response against small unmanned aircraft. The training involved the 31st Air Task Force and other Air Force personnel during an exercise held from 3 to 7 August, with reporting published later in August.
The drills reflect a wider shift toward cheaper, tiered base-defence systems after drone-heavy conflicts in Europe and the Middle East exposed the limits of relying on expensive interceptors. Airmen trained with AI tools designed to filter aerial objects before handing targets to electronic warfare systems and, if required, a final “denial” layer using physical engagement.
The service is moving toward a crawl, walk, run approach for counter-sUAS operations, including the sharing of targeting and sensor data across dispersed units. The training also used small drones programmed to mimic hostile flight patterns, underscoring demand for integrated counter-UAS packages that link sensors, software, electronic warfare and low-cost defeat options.