Drones swarm over U.S. and Thai soldiers during a mock Cobra Gold battle in Phu Lam Yai, Thailand, March 1, 2025. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes)
PHU LAM YAI, Thailand — As U.S. and Thai soldiers engaged in a mock gun battle over the weekend, a singular warning cut through the chaos: “Drones! It’s a drone swarm!”
About a dozen unmanned aircraft flying in two formations appeared on the horizon, their rotor hum prompting soldiers to shift their focus upward. A fire team of four quickly took positions with one of their newest weapons — the Dronebuster.
The handheld electronic device emits electromagnetic signals designed to disrupt or disable unmanned aerial systems.
A fireteam from the U.S. Army's 4th Infantry Division carrying a Dronebuster, center right, holds its position during a Cobra Gold drill in Phu Lam Yai, Thailand, March 1, 2025. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes)
During Saturday’s training, the targeted drones simply reversed course. In a real combat scenario, they would likely fall from the sky, said Capt. Tyler Schultz, an observer coach and trainer with the 196th Infantry Brigade, based at Fort Shafter, Hawaii.
The Dronebuster used Saturday was a prototype developed from an existing system, he told Stars and Stripes.
The swarm attacked twice during the drill, but not all drones were repelled in time; those that made it through resulted in simulated explosions near the troops, all from the 4th Infantry Division out of Fort Carson, Colo.
Soldiers with the U.S. Army's 4th Division fire during a mock Cobra Gold battle in Phu Lam Yai, Thailand, March 1, 2025. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes)
Thai soldiers listen to a briefing ahead of a mock Cobra Gold battle in Phu Lam Yai, Thailand, March 1, 2025. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes)
Drones present multiple challenges in warfare, including their high maneuverability and the difficulty of distinguishing friend from foe.
“Identification of these drones is a huge challenge, as well as getting that … Dronebuster operator in the right spot to actually be effective and take a shot at that drone,” Schultz said.
Addressing those challenges requires repeated training and rehearsals, said Maj. Paul Hanneman, operational planner for the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center, based at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
“This is exactly the arena that we train in, so we can fight in a similar arena,” Hanneman said at the exercise. “That’s why we’re over here in Thailand, where it’s hot, it’s remote, it’s rugged.”
Between firefights and drone swarms, soldiers also contended with high humidity and 100-degree temperatures. At least two U.S. troops suffered heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
A fireteam from the U.S. Army's 4th Infantry Division holds defensive positions during a mock Cobra Gold battle in Phu Lam Yai, Thailand, March 1, 2025. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes)
Drones have played an increasingly pivotal role in conflicts over the past five years, including in Ukraine, the Red Sea and Israel. They represent “an evolving threat” with many variables, Hanneman said.
“It’s one thing to train to counter [drones] in an air-conditioned room with field support techs nearby,” he said. “It’s another thing to do so under sleep deprivation, when there’s language barriers at play and it’s remote.”
Cobra Gold, now in its 44th year, involves approximately 8,000 troops from 30 countries. The exercise began Thursday and concludes Saturday.
