Disrupting Traditional Military Strategies in Ukraine
Drones in Modern Warfare
The Australian Army's Occasional Paper No. 29: Drones in Modern Warfare – Lessons Learnt from the War in Ukraine provides a detailed, evidence-based analysis of how drones are reshaping modern combat. Authored by Dr. Oleksandra Molloy, this report draws from interviews with military experts and operators in Ukraine and Australia to explore the impact of Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. It examines the strategic, operational, and tactical shifts brought about by drone technology, including the evolution of multi-domain warfare, the role of small drones, and the rapid innovation driven by necessity on the battlefield.
In this post, we summarized the key shifts in warfare from the report, highlighting how drones have disrupted traditional military strategies and introduced new ways of conducting operations.
Shifts in Warfare Due to Drone Use in Ukraine
Decentralized and Asymmetric Warfare: The widespread availability of low-cost drones has enabled smaller, less-equipped forces to compete with larger, more advanced militaries. Drones have become a great equalizer, allowing nations like Ukraine to offset Russia's numerical and technological advantages.
From Traditional to Multi-Domain Operations: Drones are no longer confined to aerial operations. Ukraine has employed drones across air, land, and sea, transforming the concept of single-domain combat into multi-domain warfare, where coordinated drone operations across these domains offer new strategic possibilities.
Tactical Flexibility: Drones have increased tactical flexibility, giving small military units the ability to perform reconnaissance, strike targets, and gather intelligence independently. This has changed how infantry, armor, and artillery coordinate on the battlefield, offering greater autonomy to smaller units.
Reduced Human Exposure: Drones are reducing the need for soldiers to be in direct combat. By conducting surveillance, reconnaissance, and even kamikaze-style attacks, drones keep soldiers out of harm’s way, leading to fewer casualties while maintaining operational effectiveness.
Accelerated Decision-Making: Real-time intelligence and surveillance from drones have dramatically reduced the decision-making cycle. Military forces can detect, track, and strike targets in minutes, changing the pace of warfare and reducing the time between detection and destruction.
Adaptation to Electronic Warfare: Both sides have adapted to electronic warfare countermeasures, such as jamming, by developing resilient drone technologies and operational strategies. This emphasizes the increasing importance of cybersecurity and electronic warfare capabilities in modern combat.
Innovation and Commercialization: The integration of commercially available drones has transformed how quickly military forces can innovate. Ukraine’s collaboration with private industry has shown how bypassing traditional procurement systems allows for faster adaptation and deployment of cutting-edge technology.
Human-Machine Teaming: Drones are reshaping the role of human soldiers, enabling new forms of human-machine collaboration. In future conflicts, uncrewed systems may outnumber humans, shifting military doctrines to focus on integrating humans and machines in combat operations.
Expanded Airspace Conflict: The battlefield has expanded vertically, with drones creating a new layer of airspace conflict. Ground forces now contend with drones monitoring their movements and delivering explosives from above, changing traditional ground combat dynamics.
Low-Cost, High-Impact Attacks: The ability to deliver small drones en masse has introduced the concept of ‘mass effect’ drone operations. These swarming tactics, involving low-cost drones, can overwhelm enemy defenses, changing how air defenses and ground combat operations are conducted.
Concepts Emerging from Drone Warfare
The conflict in Ukraine has not only transformed how drones are used in warfare but has also led to the creation of new concepts and terminology that reflect the evolving nature of combat. Below are some of the key terms and concepts that have emerged from the lessons of drone warfare in Ukraine.
Mass Effect Drone Operations:
This term refers to the coordinated use of swarms of drones to overwhelm enemy defenses. Rather than relying on a few high-value drones, mass effect operations deploy large numbers of small, often inexpensive drones to saturate the battlefield. These drone swarms can confuse or overwhelm counter-drone systems, making it difficult for adversaries to intercept or neutralize all threats. The ability to deploy drones in large volumes allows for a high-impact attack at a lower cost.
FPV (First-Person View) Kamikaze Drones:
FPV drones are typically small, commercially available drones, often used for racing or recreational filming. In the context of warfare, these drones are retrofitted with explosives, turning them into makeshift "kamikaze" units. Operated remotely from a first-person view, the drone pilot has real-time visual feedback, enabling them to guide the drone toward enemy targets with precision. This innovation allows for low-cost, highly targeted attacks without direct human involvement in the battlefield.
Attritable Drones:
These drones are designed to be expendable. With the rapid proliferation of cheaper, mass-produced drones, militaries are no longer relying solely on expensive, high-tech UAVs. Attritable drones are built with the expectation that they will be lost or destroyed during combat but are inexpensive enough that their loss does not significantly affect operational capabilities. This shift in drone design reflects the evolving nature of warfare, where quantity and affordability can outweigh the need for survivability in some cases.
Loitering Munitions:
Also known as "suicide drones," loitering munitions combine the functions of a traditional drone and a missile. These drones are equipped with explosives and are designed to hover or "loiter" over a target area before identifying and attacking a target. Once a target is identified, the drone acts as a precision-guided weapon, diving into the target to detonate its payload. This capability allows for sustained surveillance followed by a direct strike, making it highly effective in dynamic battlefield environments.
Drone Swarms:
A drone swarm involves the use of multiple drones, often controlled by a single operator or autonomous system, to conduct coordinated missions. This concept maximizes operational effectiveness by allowing a swarm to perform multiple tasks, such as reconnaissance, jamming, or direct attacks, all at once. Swarms can also overwhelm enemy defenses by presenting multiple targets simultaneously, diluting the enemy’s ability to counter all the threats.
Kropyva System:
This is a Ukrainian-developed digital command and control system that integrates drone data into a broader battlefield management framework. Often referred to as "Uber for artillery," the Kropyva System allows commanders to receive real-time intelligence from drones and quickly assign artillery targets. It dramatically reduces the time between target detection and engagement, making battlefield operations faster and more precise.
Uncrewed System Forces (USF):
Ukraine has created the world’s first dedicated military branch for uncrewed systems, which includes aerial, maritime, and ground-based drones. The USF reflects a recognition of the growing importance of drones in modern warfare and is tasked with integrating, training, and managing uncrewed systems in combat. This new military structure represents a shift in how nations approach the development and deployment of autonomous systems.
Commercialization of Warfare:
One of the most striking trends from the Ukraine conflict is the use of commercial, off-the-shelf drones in military operations. Drones like the DJI Mavic, originally intended for civilian use, have been adapted for combat roles, including reconnaissance, artillery spotting, and kamikaze missions. The ability to rapidly integrate commercially available technology into military operations has allowed Ukraine to innovate at a pace far exceeding traditional military procurement processes.
Asymmetric Drone Warfare:
This concept refers to the use of drones by smaller, less technologically advanced forces to level the playing field against a superior adversary. In the Ukraine conflict, drones have provided an asymmetric advantage, allowing Ukrainian forces to conduct precision strikes, gather real-time intelligence, and carry out reconnaissance missions despite being outmatched in terms of traditional military resources. Drones allow these forces to achieve significant operational effects at a fraction of the cost of conventional warfare technologies.
Conclusion
The war in Ukraine has forced a shift in military strategy, driven by the need for cost-effective, adaptable, and rapid-response solutions on the battlefield. Drones, with their flexibility, precision, and low cost, have risen to prominence not out of convenience but out of necessity. As traditional approaches proved too slow or resource-intensive, drones have taken center stage, enabling forces to respond quickly, gather real-time intelligence, and execute targeted strikes. This shift is not just about technology—it’s about adapting to the demands of modern warfare, where speed, adaptability, and efficiency are critical for survival and success.
