The US Army has learned how to shoot down drones — during the "Return of the Condor" exercises, armored vehicles became part of the air defense system

Fort Hood Exercises: not just maneuvers, but a new look at combat

On August 27, 2025, an exercise called "Return of the Condor" was held at the Fort Hood training ground, Texas. At first glance, this is another series of tactical maneuvers involving M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles. But it wasn't just practice shooting and movement. It was a breakthrough: the U.S. Army officially incorporated anti-drone tactics into armored operations.

Now the fight against drones is not the task of individual units, but part of the daily work of tank crews and driver mechanics.

Drones vs Bradley — how the armor adapts to the threat from above

The exercises simulated the real conditions of modern combat, in which small drones are not uncommon, but a constant threat. The drones dropped explosive imitators, monitored the movement of equipment and adjusted the "fire". In response, the Bradleys used not only smoke bombs and radio suppression equipment, but also active measures: detection, tracking and coordination of strikes.

It is important that the tactics were practiced not in isolation, but as part of a combat team — as part of the overall picture of the battle.

From defense to offensive — now tanks hunt drones

Previously, armored groups simply tried not to get hit from the air. Now they themselves become part of the air defense system. Machine commanders learn how to quickly identify the type of drone, its trajectory, and transmit data to the network. Sometimes they even use a cannon or machine gun to destroy small targets.

This does not mean that the Bradley has become an anti-aircraft installation. But now he's not just waiting to be undermined—he sees the threat and acts.

Why does this change everything on the battlefield

The experience of recent conflicts has shown that drones can destroy even heavy equipment. Ignoring them means signing your own sentence. "The Return of the Condor" is a signal: the US Army will no longer respond to drones as a surprise. It makes the fight against them the very basis of tactics.

Now every crew has to think not only about the enemy on the ground, but also about those flying overhead. And this is a new reality.

Sources

1. SSB Crack — Operation Return of the Condor marks US Army tactical milestone
2. Army Recognition — US Army integrates counter-drone tactics during Fort Hood exercise
3. YouTube — US Army tests Bradleys against drone threats at Fort Hood
4. DVIDS — Images and videos from Operation Return of the Condor
5. DVIDS — 1st Cavalry Division tests counter-UAS capabilities during Operation Return Condor