Geopolitics Decanted by Silverado Why Drones Can’t Replace Traditional Firepower
Aug 5, 2025
Dmitri Alperovitch chats with Justin Bronk, a senior research fellow at RUSI and professor at the Royal Norwegian Air Force Academy, about the pitfalls of NATO following Ukraine's drone-heavy strategy. They discuss how over-relying on drones can be detrimental and the importance of maintaining traditional firepower. Justin highlights effective counter-drone strategies, examines the implications of Ukraine’s minimal drone vs. artillery investments, and critiques the resilience of Russian air defenses. A thought-provoking conversation on the future of military tactics!
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Avoid Overreliance on FPV Drones
- NATO should not replace traditional firepower with proliferation of small drones like FPVs and loitering munitions.
- Over-reliance on these drones as primary weapons risks underpreparing for Russian counter-UAV capabilities.
FPVs Excel in Attritional Context
- FPVs cause sustained attrition primarily because both sides cannot achieve air superiority and are constrained by minefields and fortifications.
- This attritional drone warfare suits current Ukraine-Russia fighting but differs from NATO's ideal force design.
Use Acoustic Cannons Against FPVs
- Invest in advanced counter-UAV systems combining acoustic detection and high-caliber cannons with machine learning for targeting.
- Deploying such systems on vehicles can shoot down FPVs effectively with few rounds per kill.