The evolution of drone warfare in Ukraine has been a significant development in recent years

The Ukraine war has witnessed an unprecedented use of drones, making it distinct from any other conflict. These drones range from small quadcopters equipped with cameras and grenades, which hover over front-line trenches, to flying bombs carrying warheads weighing several dozen kilograms (pounds) into Kyiv and Moscow.

The invasion of Russian troops in recent months has resulted in waves of Iranian-made Shahed "kamikaze" drones being sent towards Kyiv and other major cities. In response, Ukraine has launched its own unmanned attacks in Crimea and the Russian border region of Belgorod.

The Russian government went on record on Tuesday, accusing Ukraine of carrying out an attack on Moscow using these devices.

The picture we witness today is a stark contrast to the excessive hype that once surrounded the Turkish-produced Bayraktar TB2 drones during the early months of the conflict.

The aircraft achieved significant publicity and were celebrated in songs for their crucial role in crushing Moscow's armored columns and the Moskva, the flagship of the Black Sea fleet.

Nevertheless, the significance of these models, categorized as MALE (Medium Altitude, Long Endurance), has diminished as the conflict has persisted.

According to an anonymous European defense industry source cited by AFP, the front line has reached a state of stability and impenetrability as a result of the deployment of Russian defense systems, aimed at protecting against airborne assaults.

The dynamics of the drone war have now revolved around the manipulation of numbers.

The interception of suicide drones is primarily carried out by air defenses, as stated by a senior French military source. These defenses are strategically utilized to prompt the defenders to engage their missiles and exhaust their reserves.

“You also create terror and uncertainty at all times. Over the long term, that has value,” the source added.

The significance of Russia's capability to cheaply erode enemy air defense was underscored by analysts Jack Watling and Nick Reynolds from the British defense think-tank RUSI in a recent report. This is particularly crucial as Russia's production of long-range missiles is limited to approximately 40 per month.

It has been stated that Moscow's air force deploys a substantial number of aircraft to augment the range of potential threats and analyze vulnerabilities in the Ukrainian air defense. The aim is to identify gaps in the defense system where traditional missiles could potentially breach.

According to the European industrial source, Kyiv has been reported to use commercially available Chinese propeller-powered drones or old Soviet jet-powered reconnaissance drones for attacks well within Russian territory.

– Front lines –

A large number of drones are compact models used for reconnaissance and attack missions on the front lines.

Ukrainian armed forces have shared numerous videos on social media platforms showing modified commercially available drones dropping bombs on Russian soldiers' positions.

As per RUSI's Watling and Reynolds, it is usual to have between 25 and 50 UAVs from each side on a 10-kilometre front line.

Ukrainian Furia and Russian Eleron-3 drones are purpose-built for specific functions, boasting a range of up to 50 kilometers. In contrast, modified commercial quadcopters, many of which are acquired through crowdfunding, are only capable of traveling distances of less than 10 kilometers.

As a result of the swarms, both factions have been forced to utilize electronic defenses, thereby minimizing the cost of countering devices that are too inexpensive to warrant the use of costly missiles.

According to RUSI's assessment, the Russian forces have adopted a strategy wherein they deploy approximately one major electronic warfare system for every 10 kilometers of frontage. Moreover, there are further specialized electronic warfare capabilities that are utilized at higher levels of the chain of command.

The senior French officer pointed out that the Russians have heightened their electronic warfare game, denoting a substantial shift in their tactics.

As per RUSI, even individual Russian platoons are now armed with anti-drone weapons, such as directional jammers and arrays for taking over UAVs drone jammer.

Anti-drone “rifles” that emit jamming signals are “the absolute basics of defence, what really works are non-portable jammers deployed close to the front line”, the European industry source said signal jammer.

However, they added that these "enormous spheres on tripods with generators" are easily identifiable and have a limited life expectancy.

– High attrition –

The French officer viewed drone and anti-drone warfare as a novel type of combined arms combat.

Just as we maintain infantry, cavalry, and artillery, we also maintain drones, electronic warfare, and connectivity.

The officer made it clear that the extensive measures taken to counter their presence result in small drones having a restricted operational lifespan, typically lasting no more than four to six flights before being successfully shot down.

It has been stated by Ukraine that they are experiencing a notable depletion of around 10,000 drones every month across their diverse range of devices. However, the accuracy of this statement cannot be confirmed, leading to speculation that it may be an effort to secure additional aid from Western countries.

In the case of breakthroughs and counter-offensives leading to the return of rapidly shifting front lines, drones will remain relevant.

The suggestion put forth by Vikram Mittal, a professor at the US military academy West Point, involves Ukraine utilizing drones to eliminate Russian defensive barriers in its widely anticipated summer offensive, including the option of dropping explosives into a minefield to create a pathway, as detailed in Forbes.

If highly mobile troops are cut off from supply lines, drones could be used to resupply them with ammunition and other necessary supplies to maintain their operations.