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The Evolution of “Combined Drone Warfare”: A Telling Case Study
A second phase of transformation, during which Ukrainian forces went beyond traditional Western training by developing entirely new approaches to warfare, can be pointed out.
Both technologically and tactically, the innovations deployed in the drone domain have revolutionized the conduct of modern military operations and placed Ukraine at the forefront of asymmetric warfare capabilities.
Such breakthroughs represent perhaps the most significant tactical development since the introduction of precision munitions. They concern several operational levels, ranging from individual fighter equipment to strategic reconnaissance and strike capabilities.
At the tactical level, Ukrainian forces converted commercial quadcopters into low-cost reconnaissance and strike platforms. Soldiers have learned to modify commercial drones to carry small explosive devices, creating improvised precision strike capabilities able to target individual enemy positions, vehicles, or personnel with remarkable accuracy.
For a few hundred Euros, strike capabilities, once only available through the acquisition of expensive armaments, have been appearing on the battlefield.
Simultaneously, the development of real-time reconnaissance capabilities have been revolutionizing battlefield awareness. Almost permanent surveillance of enemy positions, movement patterns, and defensive preparations are now becoming possible through the use of small drones, giving Ukrainian commanders unprecedented tactical intelligence. This capability have been considered especially valuable in urban warfare environments where traditional reconnaissance methods prove either impossible or particularly dangerous.
Ukrainian forces developed saturation tactics, simultaneously using cheap drones to overwhelm enemy air defenses and jamming capabilities.
While potentially vulnerable on an individual basis, these vectors have imposed themselves through mass and redundancy, demonstrating the effectiveness of coordinating swarm tactics.
Beyond tactical applications, Ukrainian forces have indeed also integrated the use of drone within larger military operations through sophisticated coordination. Drones have thus become integral components of artillery operations, providing not only real-time targeting information, but also battle damage assessment capability that have significantly contributed to improving conventional fire effectiveness.
Finally, the use of drones as electronic warfare vectors constitutes a major innovation. Ukrainian forces have learned to use modified drones as platforms to jam enemy communications, disrupt command and control networks, and interfere with enemy drone operations.
Due to their size and cost, these capabilities have been providing tactical advantages superior to traditional electronic warfare systems.
An Unprecedented Battlefield Transparency
By developing integrated command and control systems capable of coordinating drone operations across multiple units and operational levels, individual drone operators have been able to share real-time intelligence with artillery units, special forces, and higher-level staffs simultaneously, creating a level of battlefield transparency previously impossible.
At the strategic level, Ukrainian innovations in the drone domain has extended to long-range strike capabilities against high-value targets located deep in enemy territory.
The use of modified commercial drones and sophisticated navigation systems did allow Ukrainian forces to conduct precision strikes against targets located hundreds of kilometers away, challenging traditional concepts of strategic depth and security behind the line of contact.
These strategic applications have highlighted the potential for relatively small and technologically sophisticated forces to threaten targets previously considered secure due to their distance from front lines. The psychological as well as the operational impact of these capabilities thus extend well beyond their immediate tactical effects.
The specific technical innovations developed by Ukrainian forces amount to a true masterclass in rapid technological adaptation and creative problem-solving under extreme pressure.
The ingenuity with which drone operators repurposed commercial technologies beyond their intended design scope have effectively outpaced extensive research and development programs.
Ukrainian engineers and soldiers managed to modify commercial drones to enhance their military effectiveness by extending communication range, integrating various sensors, improving battery life, and adding weatherproofing. Many of these modifications were designed for field implementation, allowing frontline units to customize their equipment according to specific operational demands.
The development of improvised munitions launch systems has been a particularly important innovation. Ukrainian forces have created standardized mounting systems that allow various types of explosive devices to be quickly attached to commercial drones, effectively transforming civilian technology into precision strike platforms. These systems combine efficiency and safety, ensuring that operators can deploy weapons while minimizing risks to friendly forces.
Software innovations have also proven to be just as important as hardware modifications. Ukrainian programmers have developed applications that have improved drone navigation, optimized operator interfaces, and enabled autonomous flight capabilities.
Many of these software solutions have been designed to work with existing commercial hardware, maximizing compatibility and minimizing training requirements.
The integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities into drone operations has also stood out as a cutting-edge innovation.
Ukrainian forces have developed systems capable of automatically identifying and classifying targets, optimizing flight paths, and coordinating multiple drone operations simultaneously. In some cases, these capabilities have proven superior to those of military systems specifically designed for this purpose.
Above all, Ukrainian forces have revolutionized aspects of drone operations related to communication and networking. They have developed secure and resilient communication networks capable of coordinating drone operations across vast operational areas while resisting enemy electronic warfare efforts.
The development of mesh networking capabilities has enabled individual drones to serve as communication relays, extending the range and reliability of communications on the battlefield. This innovation has addressed one of the fundamental challenges of modern warfare: maintaining reliable communications in contested electromagnetic environments.
(By Murielle Delaporte)
For more information, see, for example:
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• Kott, Alexander, and David S. Alberts. How Do You Command and Control a Hundred Thousand Robots? Adelphi, MD: U.S. Army Research Laboratory, 2017.
• Boulanin, Vincent, Maaike Verbruggen, and others. Mapping the Development of Autonomy in Weapon Systems. Stockholm: SIPRI, 2017.
• Scharre, Paul. Swarm Warfare: The Past, Present, and Future of Human-Machine Teams. Lincoln: Potomac Books, 2018.
• Watling, Jack, and Nick Reynolds. Ukraine at War: Paving the Road from Survival to Victory. London: RUSI, 2022.
• Ministère des Armées. Les drones dans les conflits contemporains. Étude n°115. Paris: IRSEM, 2022.
• Bundeswehr University Munich. Autonome Waffensysteme und Schwarmtechnologien. Forschungsbericht. Munich: Universität der Bundeswehr, 2022.
• Cancian, Mark F. “Ukrainian Long-Range Strikes and Western Policy.” Washington, DC: Center for Strategic and International Studies, 2023.
• Boutherin, Jean-Baptiste. “Drones en Ukraine : l’innovation sous le feu.” Défense & Sécurité Internationale, no. 160 (2023).
• Rekawek, Kacper. Drony na wojnie: Przypadek Ukrainy. Warsaw: OSW – Ośrodek Studiów Wschodnich, 2023.
• Bendett, Samuel. Ukraine’s Drone War: A Case of Rapid Adaptation. Arlington, VA: CNA, 2023.
• Mykhnenko, Vlad. “Ukrainian Military Innovation under Fire.” Journal of Strategic Studies, 2024.