The emergence of drone warfare has prompted the United States military to reconsider its tactical approach as it readies itself for a potential significant confrontation in the Indo-Pacific region.

At Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, American forces have intensified their training and increased their deployment of drones, preparing for a possible conflict with China. This potential clash would represent the most substantial military engagement since World War II.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged his military leaders to be ready for a possible invasion of Taiwan by 2027, a scenario that could see the United States stepping in to defend the island nation.

The US military, traditionally dependent on costly and bulky weaponry, is transitioning towards electronic warfare—a field where China has already made considerable advancements.

In a recent demonstration of this strategic shift, The Wall Street Journal observed a series of military exercises conducted by the US Army across several Hawaiian Islands, showcasing some of their latest technological acquisitions.

Troops launched a large variety of different machines on 600 flights over the two weeks, flying through dense jungle foliage and battling intense. 

The aim of the exercises was to test the drones in thick and muggy tropical conditions, as drones tend to wobble in the heat due to overworked motors. 

It’s not just the drones either, with the outlet witnessing soldiers whizzing around the islands on a new series of watercraft designed to move across beaches.

One official told the outlet that the vehicle, which was unnamed in their report, is their biggest game changer since the invention of night vision. 

Soldiers participate in training exercises at Lightning Academy at Schofield Barracks in Honolulu, Hawaii, on November 10

Troops launched a large variety of different machines on 600 flights over the two weeks, flying through dense jungle foliage and battling intense

And should a war break out, old school cannon artillery has been replaced by a Himars missile platform that can be transported on the rear of a truck. 

The Wall Street Journal reported that 16 of those systems are already on the ground in Hawaii awaiting deployment. 

The type of fighting in the region would be vastly different from the desert regions of the Middle East where US troops have spent the most of their time in recent decades. 

As drones, which are both cheap and expendable, look to dominate future battles soldiers are also taking their own precautions against them. 

Command posts deep in the jungles of Hawaii are being stripped back to the bare necessities. 

Camouflage nets and thick shrubbery being used over vehicles, while troops paint their faces with thick green paint, the outlet reported. 

Major General James Bartholomees, commander of the Army’s 25th Infantry Division that focuses on the region, said that the use drones make everyone visible. 

He said: ‘The truth of the modern battlefield is that everyone can be seen. It’s a bit of a cat-and-mouse game that we’re watching and learning from in Ukraine.

‘There are vignettes that are easily seen on YouTube of how you see a drone that’s defeated in one way, that then there’s a counter that’s already planned. 

As drones, which are both cheap and expendable, look to dominate future battles soldiers are also taking their own precautions against them. A soldier is seen here during demolition training in 2018

Donald Trump speaks to reporters after speaking to troops via video from his Mar-a-Lago estate on Thanksgiving

Some soldiers now carry M4 assault rifles that are equipped with a ‘smart shooter’ scope that locks onto a drone and fires a round when lined up.  

Troops are also being handed wearable drone blockers, which detect incoming aerials and then jams the drone with an electromagnetic ‘arrow’. 

According to Sgt. First Class Kamakaniokalani Mann Tomita the shift towards modern technology has been both drastic and dramatic. 

He told the outlet that in a year his infantry platoon has went from having one drone to seven types to experiment with. 

Most recently he said that he learned how to use a flock of drones in a kamikaze-style attack. 

Tomita described how seven drones went up and with just a few touches of a screen two left the pack and hit the target.  ‘It’s very, very terrifying to be frank’, he added. 

The exercise was a run through on what could be a very real reality someday if a US ally’s island territory comes under attack, with US troops dropped in not long after. 

If Beijing was to invade and the US decided to come to the island’s aid then American soldiers would find themselves fighting in islands between Japan and the Philippines.

With that in mind, officials brought in a new combat training facility in Hawaii in 2022, named the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center.

A missile is being launched to strike a low-altitude target during a live-fire tactical drill in Jiuquan, China

Xi Jinping says Taiwan is part of China and has told his military to be ready to take it in 2027

Some soldiers now carry M4 assault rifles that are equipped with a ‘smart shooter’ scope that locks onto a drone and fires a round when lined up, the scope is seen here

The exercise was a run through on what could be a very real reality someday if a US ally’s island territory comes under attack, with US troops dropped in not long after

As drones, which are both cheap and expendable, look to dominate future battles soldiers are also taking their own precautions against them

Just last month, 8,000 personnel from the US, Taiwan, France and Malaysia congregated at the site and carried out a litany of training exercises. 

It marked the first time that US soldiers were able to train with the new equipment that the Army is trialing. 

In the new year one of the brigades will travel to Philippines to stress-test the equipment. 

Command Sgt. Maj. Shaun Curry of the 25th Infantry Division added: ‘We can quickly turn lessons learned. 

‘Did it work here in Hawaii and then does it work in the first island chain in 100 degrees heat, in 100% humidity.’ 

It’s not just a change in military technology that has changed either, their whole procurement process is looking to shift dramatically. 

A number of Kestrel drones are seen inside Schofield Barracks last month

A soldier holds a drone in the Pentagon parking lot on June 14, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia

A FlexForce Dronebuster during training exercises at Lightning Academy at Schofield Barracks in Honolulu, Hawaii, US

Officials are looking to break down what is an arduous process by giving commanders on the ground more flexibility. 

To further ready troops, the US will also need to increase the production of drones, which the Army is looking to spur on in the next few years. 

Benjamin Jensen, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, warned that officials need to ensure there is enough to go around.

He told the outlet: ‘The one fear I have is that we develop an army of amazing prototypes but we don’t have a deep-enough magazine depth.’

Staff Sgt. Thanh Ho, a drone specialist, also admitted to the outlet that as far drones are concerned the US is ‘a little behind, we need to play the catch-up game’.

He is part of a new faction called the multifunctional reconnaissance company which involves human scouts and drone pilots working as a team. 

The ultimate goal is to find and eliminate enemy drone operators, with one soldier joking with the outlet that ‘nerds’ are now being brought in for the frontline work.