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A new report out of the University of New South Wales has explored the role and impacts of drone warfare within the ongoing Ukraine–Russia war.
Written by Dr Oleksandra Molloy, Drones in modern warfare: Lessons learnt from the war in Ukraine emphasised that despite the unmanned, autonomous nature of drones, human judgement and technical skill from soldiers and operators is still central to military success.
“While drones enhance the ability to ‘find, fix and strike’ the enemy, they still rely on operators, technical specialists, logistics support, data analysts and commanders for effective deployment,” Molloy said.
“What drones can’t do is hold ground, reassure populations or make context-rich decisions.
“They expand what small teams can achieve, but ultimately, it is people who win battles, adapt to conditions, and decide how technology is used.”
Focusing on the “battlefield innovation” in Ukraine and Russia, the research points to the fact that the rapid pace of drone warfare acceleration indicates the overall nature of changing warfare techniques and the ways soldiers operate.
Molloy said that the firsthand experience with the Ukrainian Defence Force has shown that traditional military techniques like trench warfare and artillery duels must work together with the new technology for the most effective outcome.
“Drones are changing how equipment and troops manoeuvre on a battlefield, not eliminating their movement altogether,” Molloy added.
“Commanders are innovating at extraordinary speed. We’re seeing evolution, not revolution, in how forces manoeuvre under constant aerial surveillance.”
The report is set to guide future Australian Defence Force developments and considerations, with Molloy saying that national defence forces should assess how drones are changing warfare overseas and how that might impact their operations.
“Western militaries, including Australia, need to learn from this agility, because the real lesson isn’t about drones alone but the ability to continuously adapt.”
