US troops in Eastern Europe adapt tactics based on Ukraine war

Nearly three years into Russia's war in Ukraine, US troops stationed in Eastern Europe are adapting their battlefield tactics based on real-time lessons from the ongoing conflict, ABC News reported on Tuesday.

This evolution, known as "Transformation in Contact," focuses on modernizing warfare strategies through technological innovation and strategic adaptation.

Following Russia's February 2022 war, the US quickly deployed troops to Eastern Europe to reinforce NATO allies and deter future Russian military advances. What began as a temporary mission has evolved into a permanent presence of 23,000 US soldiers spread across 23 operational sites from Estonia to Bulgaria, rotating on nine-month deployments.

“It's just a critical time to be here right now,” said Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza, commander of the US Army's Fifth Corps, in an interview with ABC News.

“I have responsibility for (US) forces from Estonia all the way down to Bulgaria ... to assure our NATO partners and allies, but more importantly, to deter future Russian aggression.”

One of the most significant battlefield adaptations has been the integration of drone warfare lessons from Ukraine.

Small, commercially available drones are now being repurposed for bomb deployment, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare evasion.

“There's no better place to learn from the conflict in Ukraine than Eastern Europe,” Costanza noted. “Our NATO partners are helping train and equip the Ukrainians. So we get a direct injection of all the lessons coming out of Ukraine.”

- New battlefield innovations

The US military is also shifting toward a more decentralized command structure, moving away from large headquarters that are vulnerable to missile strikes, the broadcaster reported.

Instead, smaller, dispersed units are utilizing advanced technology that minimizes electronic signal exposure.

“Now it's individual vehicles that are spread out all over the battlefield ... the signature is so much smaller, making it harder to identify command posts,” Costanza explained.

Recent joint exercises in Germany, such as "Combined Resolve," have allowed US troops to test new battlefield innovations.

Soldiers from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, based in Germany, deployed 3D-printed sensors to detect drones and used translation-enabled radios for seamless communication with Polish forces.

“To the point where you can pick up a radio and talk to somebody in a Polish unit, and it actually translates what you say into Polish … and you hear his response in English,” Costanza said, stressing the ingenuity of young soldiers in bridging operational gaps.

- Continuous learning and adaptation

The US Army has also introduced the new Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV), a lightweight, all-terrain transport capable of carrying nine soldiers, significantly improving rapid troop movement.

"You get nine guys on there and all their kit, and you can quickly move now and reposition forces in a way that infantry brigades haven't been able to do in the past," he added.

As rotations continue, each group of deployed US troops is expected to build on the lessons of their predecessors, ensuring continuous improvement in battlefield efficiency.

"So, we're just going to keep learning as we keep fielding this stuff out and just continue to get better on how we organize ourselves and how we equip ourselves," Costanza concluded.