United States and Saudi Arabia finish largest Middle Eastern live-fire anti-drone exercise
U.S. and Saudi Forces Conduct Largest Counter-Drone Exercise in Middle East
On September 7, 2025, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and the Royal Saudi Armed Forces joined forces to conduct the largest live-fire counter-drone drill ever in the Middle East. The exercise, known as Red Sands, took place at the Shamal-2 Range in Saudi Arabia's Red Sands Integrated Experimentation Center.
The drill aimed to address the challenges posed by advanced drones and improve counter-drone capabilities. U.S. and Saudi forces linked radar and sensor platforms during the drill, including the Signal Hunter and the Buffer Passive Acoustic Detection System.
Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, was heavily involved in the exercise, emphasizing the threats posed by the proliferation of advanced drones as a pressing challenge. The drones have resulted in civilian casualties, disruptions to maritime traffic, and regional instability.
Simulated engagements involved U.S. AC-130 gunships, AH-64 Apache helicopters, Saudi F-15s, Typhoons, and AH-64s. Participants tested drone defeat rounds fired from shotguns, each shell containing 720 tungsten pellets. More than 300 personnel participated, operating 20 different counter-unmanned aerial systems.
Red Sands serves as a key forum for developing and testing new technologies, tactics, and procedures to counter the growing threat of drones. Admiral Cooper stated that Red Sands united U.S., Saudi, and industry capabilities to identify top-tier systems for detecting, tracking, and neutralizing modern aerial drone threats.
The exercise showcased layered defense, combining electronic warfare systems with close-in responses. The drill reinforces cooperation and interoperability among regional partners, demonstrating the importance of collaborating closely with allies to innovate and adapt in response to these threats.
CENTCOM has repeatedly expressed concerns about Iran and its regional proxies, who have deployed thousands of one-way attack drones and missiles in recent years. Gen. Fayyadh bin Hamed Raqed al-Ruwaili, chief of the General Staff of the Royal Saudi Armed Forces, also attended the exercise.
This is the fourth iteration of the Red Sands program since its inception in 2023. The drill is a testament to the ongoing efforts to ensure the security and stability of the region in the face of evolving threats.
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