Recent conflicts, most notably in Ukraine, have demonstrated that drones are no longer confined to specialized roles. They are employed across all levels, providing persistent surveillance, enabling rapid targeting, and supporting both decentralized and massed effects.
At the same time, these trends have exposed a growing gap between operational practice and doctrinal frameworks. While existing NATO publications, including ATrainP-6, provide a solid foundation for mountain warfare, they reflect a context in which unmanned systems are integrated as supporting capabilities rather than as central elements shaping the battlefield.
This gap is particularly relevant in mountain environments. Terrain imposes constraints that amplify the impact of unmanned systems. Movement is channelized, lines of sight are fragmented, and concealment is increasingly difficult under persistent aerial observation. At the same time, communications and navigation are degraded, complicating coordination and increasing dependence on resilient systems and procedures.
In this context, the integration of unmanned systems is not simply an opportunity to enhance capability. It is a requirement to maintain operational effectiveness.
The purpose of the workshop was therefore to move beyond a general understanding of the technology and address its practical implications at tactical level, with a specific focus on company and battalion operations.
In particular, the workshop aimed to:
examine how unmanned systems are currently employed in operational environments
identify gaps in doctrine, training, and force structure
explore solutions for integration, coordination, and survivability
and contribute to the ongoing development of Tactical Techniques and Procedures relevant to mountain warfare
The workshop also forms part of a broader effort led by the MWCOE to support the evolution of NATO doctrine and training. Its outputs are intended to inform future work, including the refinement of ATrainP-6, ATP 3.2.1.3, the MW Concept and the development of complementary studies addressing unmanned and autonomous systems in mountain operations.
Ultimately, the activity was designed not only to analyse the problem, but to initiate a process of adaptation, linking operational experience to doctrinal development and practical implementation.
3 – Operational Context and Purpose
Recent conflicts, most notably in Ukraine, have demonstrated that drones are no longer confined to specialized roles. They are employed across all levels, providing persistent surveillance, enabling rapid targeting, and supporting both decentralized and massed effects.
At the same time, these trends have exposed a growing gap between operational practice and doctrinal frameworks. While existing NATO publications, including ATrainP-6, provide a solid foundation for mountain warfare, they reflect a context in which unmanned systems are integrated as supporting capabilities rather than as central elements shaping the battlefield.
This gap is particularly relevant in mountain environments. Terrain imposes constraints that amplify the impact of unmanned systems. Movement is channelized, lines of sight are fragmented, and concealment is increasingly difficult under persistent aerial observation. At the same time, communications and navigation are degraded, complicating coordination and increasing dependence on resilient systems and procedures.
In this context, the integration of unmanned systems is not simply an opportunity to enhance capability. It is a requirement to maintain operational effectiveness.
The purpose of the workshop was therefore to move beyond a general understanding of the technology and address its practical implications at tactical level, with a specific focus on company and battalion operations.
In particular, the workshop aimed to:
The workshop also forms part of a broader effort led by the MWCOE to support the evolution of NATO doctrine and training. Its outputs are intended to inform future work, including the refinement of ATrainP-6, ATP 3.2.1.3, the MW Concept and the development of complementary studies addressing unmanned and autonomous systems in mountain operations.
Ultimately, the activity was designed not only to analyse the problem, but to initiate a process of adaptation, linking operational experience to doctrinal development and practical implementation.