A Shift in Military Strategy: Unmanned Systems Take Center Stage
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has changed the way nations approach warfare, particularly in the development and production of large quantities of low-cost, “throwaway” weapons like unmanned systems. This was revealed by former and current officials from NATO countries in an interview with Business Insider.
The Swedish Defense Minister, Pål Jonson, highlighted the importance of autonomous weapons in modern warfare, stating that it is one of the most significant lessons learned from the conflict. He advised his partners to invest in drone and anti-drone technology, as it is an essential aspect of modern warfare that has become increasingly apparent on the battlefield in Ukraine.
The Danish Defense Minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, concurred, citing the ability of Ukraine to produce cost-effective weapons comparable to expensive Western systems as a key lesson learned. He emphasized the need for a significant quantity of low-cost weapons to counter “threats from Russia and China.”
According to Business Insider, the widespread use of drones does not diminish the value of advanced weapons systems. In the Ukraine conflict, low-cost drones are being effectively used to destroy expensive systems, demonstrating that “large, protracted conflicts require more than high-tech weapons.” In light of this, Western nations are preparing for a future “drone war.”
During the Operation “Baltic Sentry” NATO countries have decided to incorporate new technologies, including “a small fleet of unmanned marine aircraft” as announced by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
Former Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis told Business Insider that “we are preparing for a different kind of war, with high precision, high technology and excellent target accuracy.” However, this type of warfare is also associated with high costs. He urged Europe to prepare for the fact that “the most dangerous times are ahead of us.”
The United States is also exploring the mass production of low-cost drones, as military experts fear that Washington could quickly deplete its weapon stockpiles in the event of a war.
Elon Musk, the owner of SpaceX, has previously predicted that future wars will rely on artificial intelligence and drones. He stated, “The current war in Ukraine is already largely a drone war. . When a war of the great powers begins, it will be a drone war and it will be about drones and artificial intelligence.”
Russia plans to establish a new military unit focused on unmanned systems by the second half of 2025, primarily due to their increasing role in modern conflicts, according to Defense Minister Andrei Beloussov. President Vladimir Putin mentioned plans to increase the production of drones by a factor of ten.