Lessons from the war in Ukraine

The war in Ukraine has served as a laboratory for testing autonomous surveillance and strike systems, prompting the US Department of Defense to send teams to study the tactics used. The main lesson learned is the importance of arming and supporting partners and allies to defend their own interests. However, the challenge lies in providing the right systems to allies, as the US tends to invest in higher-end systems that may not be suitable for partner nations. Another important trend is the shift towards smaller, more autonomous and independent forces due to the difficulty of defending large massing and critical infrastructure targets. This trend highlights the need for lower-level units to have the capability to run information and ISR systems independently.