Drone Warfare: Ukraine Drone Attack on Russia

General Studies Paper-2

Context                                                       

• Under its ‘Operation Spider’s Web’, Ukraine launched first-person view (FPV) drone attacks on five airbases across Russia.

First-person View Drones

• FPV or first-person view drones are smaller in size and have cameras built in on the front, which sends live video to the operator.
• This enables precise flying and manoeuvrability by the operator from a remote location, almost like an aircraft.
• These drones used Russian mobile-telephone networks to relay their footage back to Ukraine.

Recent Use of Drones

• In the early years of the 21st century, most drone strikes were carried out by the US military in countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, Somalia, Yemen, and Libya, using air-to-surface missiles against ground targets.
• Drone warfare has since been adopted by countries like Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Iran, as well as by non-state actors such as the Houthis.
• India, too, has employed drones in recent operations, including the Operation Sindoor and retaliatory strikes against Pakistan.

What is Drone Warfare? 

• Drone warfare refers to a mode of warfare employing unmanned or remotely controlled devices.
  • Such drones have the capability of staying in the air, on land, at sea level, or underwater.
  • The drones may be operated by manual control, and others may utilise auto-pilot systems on their missions.
• Remotely Piloted Aircraft System: It refers to a set of components that include the drone, its ground-based control system.
  • The US, UK, Israel, China, India, Russia, and Turkey, have produced combat drones, or UCAVs (Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles).
  • These are employed in targeted attacks, frequently in locations difficult to access by conventional forces.
• AI: The second stage of drone application is artificial intelligence. AI drones can navigate on their own, detect targets, and even operate in “swarm” groups.

Evolution of UAVs

• In the 1960s, British Commonwealth artillery regiments started developing drones for target identification and extending their range.
• The past two decades saw the US set the trend world-wide with using drones for its counterterrorism action in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and Yemen with precision attacks minimising personnel risks.
• It was the Ukraine war that saw a turning point.
  • Russian and Ukrainian forces both used small drones on a massive scale for real-time intelligence and direct attacks.
• By 2023, small drones had evolved to accommodate multiple payloads – from infrared detectors to electronic warfare equipment.

Significance of Use of Drones in Warfare

• Targeted Strikes: Drones allow militaries to carry out highly targeted attacks, minimizing collateral damage.
• Lower Risk to Personnel: Since drones are unmanned, they eliminate the risk to pilots and reduce the need for boots on the ground.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Drones are cheaper to manufacture, operate, and maintain compared to manned aircraft.
• Real-Time Surveillance and Intelligence: Drones provide continuous, real-time imagery and intelligence gathering, essential for both offensive and defensive operations.
• Strategic Advantage in Asymmetric Warfare: Drones are especially useful against non-state actors and terrorist groups, who may not be reachable by conventional military means.

Way Ahead

• The fact that Ukraine was able to destroy such a large number of Russia’s aircraft deep inside Russia territory demonstrates the effectiveness of such deep-strike programmes and taking the possibilities of drone warfare to another level.
• As technology advances, drones will increasingly be utilised for military and civilian missions.
• Rise of autonomous and AI-driven systems could further revolutionize military doctrine.