Politics Now Is Australia drone-ready? | Insiders on Background
Jun 6, 2025
In this engaging conversation, retired Major General Mick Ryan shares his extensive experience from over three decades in the Australian Defence Force. He delves into lessons Australia can learn from Ukraine's innovative drone warfare strategies, highlighting how inexpensive drones and AI have reshaped military operations. Ryan discusses the challenges Australia faces in adapting these technologies due to bureaucratic hurdles and its defense budget issues. Emphasizing the need for decentralized decision-making, he raises concerns over vulnerabilities in Australian airbases.
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Ukraine's Audacious Drone Strikes
- Ukraine executed a bold drone strike on multiple Russian airbases across vast distances.
- They used low-cost drones controlled via Russian telecom networks and AI backups to destroy numerous bombers.
Drones Shift Naval Power
- Ukraine has pushed one of the world's largest navies from much of the Black Sea using mostly surface and semi-submersible drones.
- Use of unmanned systems on land, air, and sea is transforming modern warfare.
Drones Amplify Military Capability
- Drones extend military force capacity by placing robots between humans and threats.
- They allow smaller forces like Ukraine to achieve greater mass and lethality through unmanned systems.