Cult of the drone: At the two-year mark, UAVs have changed the face of war in Ukraine – but not outcomes

The Conversation ^ | 2/16/24 | Paul Lushenco

[hardspunned]

Unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, have been central to the war in Ukraine. Some analysts claim that drones have reshaped war, yielding not just tactical-level effects, but shaping operational and strategic outcomes as well.

It’s important to distinguish between these different levels of war. The tactical level of war refers to battlefield actions, such as patrols or raids. The operational level of war characterizes a military’s synchronization of tactical actions to achieve broader military objectives, such as destroying components of an adversary’s army. The strategic level of war relates to the way these military objectives combine to secure political aims, especially ending a war.

[hardspunned]

Drones have radically changed the way this war has been fought. Tanks, Bradleys, dugouts, trenches, troop concentrations, individual troops, reserves, everything is at risk. If the drone can’t kill it, it can find the target and sight in the ordinance that will do the job. Both sides have had incredible success with drones. The U.S. Navy was smart enough to see the success the Ukes have had in the Black Sea with drones and apparently has reacted accordingly. We are not nearly as bold with our gunboat diplomacy as we recently were. Are main battle tanks becoming obsolete? Both Uke and Russian tanks have been easy prey for drones. The Leopards have fared badly. I think we sent 30 Abrahams. Have those Abrahams been committed to actually fighting? I’m anxious to see how they hold up.

[Seruzawa]

They sent 30 Abrams but I don’t know if they sent the 60 fuel trucks they would need and the massive maintenance support.

[jacknhoo]

Guide To Ukraine’s Long Range Attack Drones
Mon 19 February 2024
By H I Sutton
http://www.hisutton.com/Ukraine-OWA-UAVs.html

First Sighting Of British Banshee Jet-Powered Drone In Ukraine
Mon 19 February 2024
By H I Sutton
http://www.hisutton.com/Ukraine-Banshee-Drone.html

[silverleaf]

I suspect this LTC’s analytical prowess on drone warfare is not going to age well, despite his BS from Westpoint, 4 Master’s Degrees and PhD in the works.

The smell of bull feces….

[tlozo]

Cult of the drone: At the two-year mark, UAVs have changed the face of war in Ukraine – but not outcomes

Because drone warfare is in its infancy. FPV drones used in the Ukraine are not swarms of 1,000 or more AI controlled drones attacking simultaneously.

U.S. military says it struck a Houthi underwater drone for first time

https://www.axios.com/2024/02/19/us-houthi-strike-underwater-drone-red-sea

[hardspunned]

I heard a Russian claim that during the Avdiivka assault they encountered an automated machine gun nest.

[marktwain]

Very easy to have a remotely aimed and fired machine gun with today's technology.

In a fixed position, it seems absurd anyone would do otherwise.

[Brian Griffin]

Close to the battle lines I would think laser RC mortar shells would be the way to go.

[MeganC]

Lots of Ruzzians are dead because of Ukrainian drones.

That’s a wonderful outcome!

[Brian Griffin]

Quonset hut shape shells big enough to hide a person might be placed at front lines.

They can probably be made for less than the cost of a deadly drone and each one carried by four persons or on trucks.

Small drones might circle overhead to spot incoming deadly drones which could be shot down by automated guns.

[Brian Griffin]

98.6 degree water dummies are possible

[Brian Griffin]

key future techniques:

open framing - to make hitting harder and blasts less effective

redundancy - for cheaper manufacture, survivability and quick repair

dummies - to waste enemy firepower

[hardspunned]

We need a “skynet” over the entire battlefield. Then we could link it with robotic fighters. What could go wrong?

[EnderWiggin1970]

Until the gun jams or suffers a similar mishap...

[Brian Griffin]

Matryoshka concept shell-in-shell combat dress dummies

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matryoshka_doll

[marktwain]

Until the gun jams or suffers a similar mishap...

Front line machinegun nests do not have long lifespans.

There are several ways to mitigate those problems.

[Brian Griffin]

“robotic fighters”

A command & control system (CCS) could be used to set a battle plan.

Each unit would have its own “robotic fighters” and the unit and its “robotic fighters” would be CCS area limited.

If a unit doesn’t advance too fast or in an unauthorized area it would be safe.

This is for discussion purposes. I do not advocate for the deployment of such a system. I do advocate for an armistice.