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500+ Seized Chinese Drones to Be Used as Live Targets in U.S. Counter-Drone Exercise

02:39 PM, 11/22/2025
500+ Seized Chinese Drones to Be Used as Live Targets in U.S. Counter-Drone Exercise

Florida will supply more than 500 confiscated Chinese quadcopters to U.S. forces for live target practice during the Military Drone Crucible at Camp Blanding, Dec. 4–6. SOCOM plans to employ shotguns and other countermeasures as part of realistic drills to detect and defeat hostile small drones. The event will include room-clearing and convoy-protection scenarios and aims to be the largest counter-drone destruction exercise to date. Organizers say the training will help refine tactics and test equipment amid efforts to accelerate U.S. drone production and capabilities.

Florida officials will provide more than 500 confiscated Chinese-made quadcopters to U.S. forces for live target practice and operational evaluation. The U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) intends to shoot down many of the drones during live-fire exercises using shotguns as part of a larger counter-drone training event.

The exercise, called the Military Drone Crucible, is scheduled for Dec. 4–6 at Camp Blanding. Over the three-day event, elite units will practice detecting, tracking and defeating small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) in realistic tactical scenarios.

Training scenarios and objectives

Training sessions will include room-clearing operations faced with hostile drones in the vicinity, convoy protection and neutralizing swarms or single hostile quadcopters in the field. Organizers say the drills aim to refine tactics, test equipment and improve coordination among special operations, infantry and other ground forces.

"It will be the largest counter-drone destruction event ever held in the United States," said Nate Ecelbarger, president of the U.S. National Drone Association.

Earlier this fall, a previous large-scale exercise at Camp Atterbury demonstrated electromagnetic defeat methods, taking down 49 drones while Navy SEALs, Marines and Army Rangers participated in the training. This new event is expected to be larger in scale and scope.

Context and policy

The exercise follows recent regulatory changes intended to accelerate U.S. drone production and deployment so domestic programs can better compete with foreign drone developments. Using seized foreign-made drones in live training gives troops exposure to the kinds of systems they could face in real-world conflicts and law enforcement scenarios.

Organizers emphasize safety protocols and controlled conditions for the live-fire events. The use of confiscated aircraft also reduces waste and provides cost-effective training material for counter-UAS development and tactics.

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