Norwegian Soldiers Put Tennis Balls on Tanks To Study Drone Strategies

The Norwegian Army recently conducted an innovative test involving dropping tennis balls onto tanks during their involvement in the NATO exercise Joint Viking 2025 in Northern Norway. This exercise was aimed at evaluating new attack and surveillance strategies utilizing drones, particularly focusing on how Ukrainian and Russian tactics could be adapted for Norwegian use. The simulations were intended to mimic real-world battlefield conditions, especially those observed in Ukraine where drones have become pivotal in warfare.

First-person-view (FPV) drones, which have seen significant use in Ukraine for attacking enemy positions and equipment, were central to the experiment. These drones, operated remotely, have the capability to directly engage targets by flying into open hatches of tanks. In the simulation, these drones were equipped with tennis balls to represent the munitions they would carry in combat, dropping these ‘simulated bombs’ onto Norwegian armored vehicles to assess the effectiveness of such attack patterns and gather data on operational tactics.

Major Tor Sellevold from Combat Lab detailed that over 30 tennis balls were used in ten sorties to study how drones could threaten vehicles from above, a method known as top-attack. This testing was unprecedented for the Norwegian Army in terms of scale and sophistication with attack drones. The exercise not only provided insights into the vulnerability of their own forces to drone attacks but also helped in understanding how to manage aerial threats and improve standard operating procedures under simulated combat conditions.

The developments in drone warfare, notably in Ukraine, have significantly influenced Norway’s military strategies. Observing these trends, the Norwegian Army plans to adapt and continue evolving their drone capabilities. This includes deploying drones from further behind the frontlines to avoid direct engagement, and investing in drones adapted for Arctic environments with enhanced long-range surveillance capabilities. The insights gathered from Joint Viking 2025, along with the ongoing technological advancements, are shaping Norway’s approach to modern warfare where unmanned aerial vehicles play a pivotal role.