The widespread use of small drones in Ukraine is so far creating new means to conduct missions that other weapons have already conducted. The small drone advantage is the lack of counter-measures to fight these new drones carrying out old missions.
Adapting to drones in ground warfare in Ukraine continues:
In recent months, Ukraine has launched drones that intercept Russian flying machines or incinerate tree lines by dropping molten metal. Also in testing: drones that carry automatic rifles and grenade launchers.
With a smaller military and fewer resources, Ukraine is relying on tech to combat Russia’s might. Once limited to dropping bomblets, Ukraine’s drones now do everything from planting mines to delivering supplies.
The article also notes mothership drones that carry and drop small drones to extend their range.
Intercepting enemy ground attack or recon flying machines? Done since World War I. Although yes, I recognize the need to shoot down drones that don't rely in stealth fighters or expensive missiles, as I wrote in Army magazine a number of years ago.
Dropping molten metal? Well, dropping napalm is an old capability pretty darned similar.
Carrying automatic weapons and grenade launchers? Small planes and helicopters can do that. And that works with my Army article calling for drone fighters to shoot down enemy drones rather than ramming them.
Planting mines? That's an old capability that aircraft and artillery can do.
Delivering supplies? Transport aircraft with parachute loads, helicopters, and even long-range guided para-glider type systems do this.
But don't get me going on the folly of friggin' space rockets getting in on the act.
Mothership drones to extend small drone range? We use aerial refueling instead of motherships for planes—which has been tried in the past. Indeed “loyal wingman” drones for planes to carry into combat are part of the plan to make crewed aircraft more survivable and lethal.
So while drones for now are providing a cheaper way of carrying out a number of missions, the sheer volume of drones lost ups the cost. As will counter-counter measures on drones to compete with developing counter-measures against drones. That all costs money after the first cheap drones had their way on a battlefield unprepared to cope with them.
I'm just not seeing the revolutionary nature of drones despite their clear value right now in Ukraine. And as counter-measures proliferate, with both electronic warfare, cheaper line-of-sight guns and lasers, and area defenses such as one that uses rapidly aimed microwave beams, the higher cost of keeping small drones effective may mean more traditional means—like swarms of smart warheads—become superior to small drones for accomplishing the missions.
Although logistics for forward, exposed units may be a continuing role dominated by aerial drones. As long as the arrival of a drone doesn’t reveal the position of a ground unit.
So I'm not rejecting small drones. I embrace them. But they are just part of a complete combined arms breakfast and not the Holy Grail of silver bullet weapons that promise cheap, decisive victory.
NOTE: I made the image with Bing.