Drone games put Ukraine's best military pilots to the test
Ukraine recently hosted a competition for its top military drone pilots, showcasing advancements in drone technology. The event, named 'Wild Drones', allowed pilots to compete against each other while also networking with manufacturers. This competition is part of Ukraine's strategy to gamify warfare, incentivizing drone operations through a points system for verified kills.
- ▪The 'Wild Drones' competition gathered pilots from 19 of Ukraine's best military units.
- ▪Ukraine has introduced a points system for verified drone kills to motivate soldiers.
- ▪Winners of the competition received advanced Vampire drones and related equipment.
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Drone games put Ukraine's best military pilots to the testSign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxPublished May 23, 2026, 03:10 PMUpdated May 23, 2026, 03:10 PMTRUSKAVETS, Ukraine, May 23 - In the sky over western Ukraine, a bullet-shaped P1-SUN interceptor drone dived towards its target as dozens of soldiers looked on. A cheer went up as it cut through a tow line from another drone to a balloon, which drifted away.Ukraine's most skilled military drone pilots squared off this week not against Russia, but against each other in a competition to win bragging rights and state-of-the-art hardware for their units.Drone technology has transformed the war in Ukraine.
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