Ukraine war, Drone war laboratory.

 RUSSIA AND UKRAINE, THE BEST DRONE WARRIORS

DAILY EVOLUTION AND ADAPTATION  

 

Ukraine's soldiers were the first to, by necessity, improvise the use of drones. At first they were cheap Chinese drones with improvised grenades and artillery shells strapped on them. The Russians had drones but their use was limited at first, they primarily relied on artillery warfare and drones for reconnaissance. Today both sides launch hundreds or even thousand of drones a day.

 

Russia may have started out slow, but has improved dramatically, not only with drones but in electronic counter measures.  One side gets a temporary advantage and then the other side quickly adjusts or adapts, this has been going back and forth continuously. The battlefield today is in reality  predominately a drone war, it has kept Ukraine in this fight for much longer than any other tactic.

 

In recent weeks Ukraine has been successful in damaging Russia's oil facilities, gas stations and other oil infrastructure, along with damage to ships in the Azov sea. Russia responded by in effect making Odessa and other Black sea ports inoperable. They have also destroyed almost all the refueling stations east of the Dneiper river.  While Ukraine has created lots of damage in recent days Russia has adapted and very few of Ukrainians drones have survived to their targets, Ukraine will now need to also adapt.

 

Russia acquired drones from Iran and then improved them dramatically and now has an ability to produce large numbers of drones. Drones are now becoming, at least for now, a major piece of offensive munitions.

 

Recently the U.S. played drone war games with a Ukrainian team and lost dramatically every time.  Not surprising, as Ukraine and Russia are now the best and most experienced at Drone warfare.

 

The U.S. has lost over 1/4 of their very expensive reaper drones in the Iran conflict, it will require much rethinking into its vulnerabilities.

 

Drones have made many expensive and over engineered equipment obsolete and vulnerable to low cost drones. The military world is watching and it will require a huge shift in priorities.