ChinaTalk Ukraine's Drone War with Shashank and Rob Lee
5 snips
Oct 29, 2025 
This discussion features Rob Lee, a military expert with frontline insights from the Ukraine war, and Shashank Joshi, a defense analyst affiliated with The Economist. They delve into the significant role of drones in the conflict, highlighting that nearly 80% of casualties stem from UAVs. The guests explore tactical innovations, the impact of Chinese drone technology, and the operational challenges faced by Ukrainian forces. They also assess NATO's evolving strategies in light of these battlefield lessons and the implications for future military doctrine.
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Drones Dominate Casualties In Current Phase
- Ukrainian commanders estimate roughly 75–95% of casualties now come from UAVs, with 80% as a common median.
- Rob Lee and Shashank Joshi warn this is context-dependent and may not generalize to all future wars.
Artillery And Drones Are Symbiotic
- UAVs and artillery operate symbiotically: artillery creates conditions for UAV strikes and UAVs facilitate artillery targeting.
- Ignoring that interplay misreads how losses are actually produced on the battlefield.
FPVs Matured Into Lethal Tools
- FPV and kamikaze drones matured after two years with specialized crews and tactics, increasing effectiveness against armor.
- Many armored losses now come from remote mining, FPVs, and night-bomber UAS rather than classic artillery alone.
