Drone Warfare in Ukraine and the Future Of Combat | Sam Bendett | Escaped Sapiens #79
Feb 9, 2025
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In this conversation, Sam Bendett, a leading expert on Russian weapons and drone technology, delves into the current landscape of drone warfare in Ukraine. He discusses the diverse UAV systems employed by both sides and the psychological impact on soldiers and civilians. The conversation explores the complexities of drone operations, supply chain dynamics, and innovations in fiber optic-controlled drones. Sam also highlights how drone technology is redefining military strategies, enabling smaller nations to challenge larger forces, and speculates on the future of unmanned warfare.
Drones are fundamentally changing modern warfare by increasing psychological stress and altering operational tactics for ground troops due to constant surveillance.
The complexity of drone missions requires teamwork among operators, engineers, and support crews, highlighting the intricate nature of contemporary combat dynamics.
Deep dives
Current Drone Systems in the Ukraine Conflict
Various types of drones are actively deployed in the Ukraine conflict, with both military-grade and commercial platforms utilized for a range of tactical missions. Light quadcopters like the DJI Mavic are commonly used for reconnaissance and logistics, while fixed-wing ISR drones provide broader surveillance capabilities. Additionally, one-way kamikaze drones have gained prominence, with both Ukraine and Russia developing their versions that can strike deep into enemy territory. The breadth of drone usage encompasses all distances and altitudes, demonstrating their integral role in modern warfare and the significant departure from traditional military strategies.
Impact of Drones on Combat Operations
The presence of drones has fundamentally altered combat dynamics, contributing to a pervasive sense of surveillance and constant risk for ground troops. Soldiers now face considerable psychological stress due to the omnipresent threat of drone observation and attack, resulting in changes in operational tactics, such as greater emphasis on camouflage and counter-drone measures. The capability of drones to monitor and strike forces from above means that large troop movements are no longer feasible, as they can be detected and targeted efficiently. Consequently, the combat environment has become a complex interplay between mobility, stealth, and electronic warfare capabilities.
The Role and Challenges of Drone Operators
Drone operators play a vital role in modern combat, requiring a team to support UAV missions due to the complexities involved in piloting and managing the technology. Operating under significant stress, drone crews must employ rapid movement techniques to avoid being targeted by the enemy, as skilled operators are top priorities for adversaries. The coordination among different crew members—ranging from pilots to engineers—highlights the intricate nature of drone missions and their reliance on teamwork to ensure effectiveness. The success of these operations largely depends on careful planning, rapid execution, and the ability to adapt to ongoing threats from enemy forces.
Future of Drone Warfare and Global Security Implications
The evolution of drone technology suggests a transformative shift in global military capabilities, with smaller nations now able to leverage affordable UAVs for strategic advantage in conflicts. The proliferation of readily available drone technologies raises concerns regarding their use by non-state actors and insurgents, potentially destabilizing security situations worldwide. As commercial advancements lead to faster development cycles, militaries face the challenge of keeping pace with rapidly evolving drone tactics and technologies used by adversaries. Overall, the Ukraine conflict serves as a critical case study, indicating a trend towards mass-manufactured, cost-effective drone systems that can be quickly adapted and deployed in diverse scenarios.
In this conversation I speak with Sam Bendett, one of the worlds leading experts on Russian weapons development and capabilities, drones, AI, and the war in Ukraine. Sam is an advisor for the Center for Naval Analyses and an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, an honorary “mad scientist” with the Mad Scientist Initiative of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, and a Russian military autonomy and artificial intelligence subject matter expert for the DOD’s Defense Systems Information Analysis Center.
We discuss drone warfare in Ukraine as it stands today. We cover the range of systems being fielded, counter measures, AI capabilities, what life is like for drone operators and soldiers on the line of contact, drone production pipelines and supply, and more.
►Find out more about Sam's work here:
https://www.cna.org/our-experts/bendett-samuel
https://www.csis.org/people/samuel-bendett
►Follow Sam on Twitter & Bluesky:
@sambendett, @sambendett.bsky.social
These conversations are supported by the Andrea von Braun foundation (http://www.avbstiftung.de/), as an exploration of the rich, exciting, connected, scientifically literate, and (most importantly) sustainable future of humanity. The Andrea von Braun Foundation has provided me with full creative freedom with their support. As such, the views expressed in these episodes are my own and/or those of my guests.
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