The U.S. Army has conducted a series of next-generation counter-UAS trials in northern Germany, using the Baltic coast’s open terrain and airspace to evaluate new drone-defense technologies that will shape NATO’s future force protection strategy.
Over a two-week period in November 2025, air defense soldiers and technology teams from the 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade and 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command gathered at the Truppenübungsplatz Putlos training range for an intensive assessment of emerging counter-drone systems. Army officials said the testing provided a critical picture of how new sensors, interceptors and command-and-control networks perform under realistic pressure.
Putlos Becomes a Testbed for NATO’s Drone-Defense Evolution
Project FlyTrap 4.5—the classified field evaluation—brought together operators, acquisition leaders and selected industry engineers. The coastal range, located in Germany’s Ostholstein district, enabled realistic live-flight drone scenarios and advanced sensor testing across both maritime and land environments.
All participating systems were required to tie into a real command-and-control network, replicating the architecture that supports NATO’s Eastern Flank. Integration was supported by V Corps units and the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, demonstrating direct tactical relevance for layered air defense.
Advanced Detection and Tracking in Complex Electromagnetic Conditions
FlyTrap 4.5 featured a detailed assessment matrix focused on detection, identification and defeat:
- Active sensors delivered high precision but also emitted detectable electromagnetic signatures.
- Passive sensors provided stealth but suffered from reduced tracking accuracy.
The Army emphasized that understanding this balance is central to defending maneuver forces against fast-changing drone threats.
Kinetic and Non-Kinetic Effects Tested Against Real Drone Threats
The defeat phase included kinetic interceptors and cutting-edge non-kinetic systems such as directed-energy platforms and electronic-disruption technologies. One low-collateral system showed particular promise for neutralizing rotary-wing drone swarms—so much so that NATO has begun a fast-track evaluation.
xTechCounterStrike Competition Adds Innovation Pipeline
Run in parallel with FlyTrap 4.5, the Army’s xTechCounterStrike competition invited private vendors to demonstrate breakthrough concepts on-site. Selected winners gained not only financial awards but placement into the Global Tactical Edge Acquisition Directorate (G-TEAD) Marketplace—giving their systems a potential fast track into operational formations. At least two technologies have been selected for continued rapid testing under the PEO Missiles and Space program.
Unprecedented Industry–Army Collaboration
Industry participants described the event as the most direct and unfiltered collaboration they had experienced, with engineers, operators and commanders walking the firing lines together as each system was tested against live drone swarms. “No slides, just results,” one radar developer said.
Lessons from Ukraine Shape U.S. Priorities
The war in Ukraine—marked by mass drone use, improvised munitions and cheap loitering systems—has rewritten the rulebook for air defense. The U.S. Army now views counter-UAS capability as essential for any forward-deployed force along NATO’s Eastern Flank, where saturation drone attacks have become a defining threat.
Preparing for 2026 and Beyond
Army leaders say FlyTrap 4.5 serves as a bridge between earlier maneuver-focused trials and a much larger, full-spectrum evaluation scheduled for spring 2026. The testing underscored a central message: drone warfare is accelerating, and the United States intends to stay ahead of the threat—not react to it.
