The emergence of drones has revolutionized how nations conduct warfare. This has been glaringly apparent in the Ukraine – Russia conflict. Both sides are using drones in the thousands each week – negating tried and true battlefield tactics and military equipment. Tanks no longer reign supreme – easily damaged or destroyed by cheap drones. Armored vehicles and individual soldiers are targeted by both sides.
The technological changes in drone warfare are rapid as both Ukraine and Russia try to outpace each other’s capabilities and gain a tactical and strategic advantage. Other nations are taking notice and are now heavily investing in their own drone capabilities. Some nations, like Turkey and Iran, have been exporting their drones to other nations for several years.
U.S. special operations forces are taking a keen interest in the technological advancements and operational methods recently showcased by Ukrainian and Israeli special operations forces. Each country demonstrated the ability to infiltrate SOF deep into enemy territory (Russia and Iran) and launch small drones that took out strategic aircraft, key leaders, and air defense systems.
SOF News will now begin reporting periodically (perhaps once a week) on drone warfare – providing curated news on articles and reports relevant to the topic – especially as it pertains to SOF.
Drones Are Changing How Armies Fight
Drones Reshaping Warfare. The innovations by Ukraine in drone warfare are influencing Middle Eastern conflicts and prompting global shifts in defense strategy. Nations are recognizing that low-cost unmanned systems can disable billion-dollar assets with devastating effect. “The Influence of Ukraine’s Drone War on the Middle East”, by David Kirichenko, National Interest, July 3, 2025.
War Without Drones? Probably Not. Drone operators are rapidly becoming the fourth pillar of modern warfare, reshaping tactics, defenses, and military structures in ways not seen since the rise of aircraft and tanks. “There Will Never Be Another War Without Drones”, by Peter Suciu, National Interest, June 20, 2025.
Drones and Old-school Tech. Fiber-optic drones are impervious to electronic warfare and can strike Russian troops in well-concealed positions. The technology keeps advancing in drone warfare, sometimes reaching into the past. “How Old-School Tech is Rewiring Drone Warfare in Ukraine”, The Wall Street Journal, July 7, 2025. (subscription)
Turkish Drones for Export. A major Turkish defense firm, Baykar, first designed and demonstrated a small drone in 2005. Since then, it has won numerous contracts for the manufacture of drones – both big and small. In 2012 it began mass production of the TB2 model. Turkey began exporting these drones on a large scale by early 2017. Turkish drones have been present in conflicts that have taken place in Syria, Libya, Ukraine, and the South Caucasus. It has also played a leading role in diminishing the capabilities of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Turkish ambitions in the region are expansionist – with hopes of spreading its influence and economic power in the Middle East and Africa. Its drone policy supports this expansionist outlook. “Turkey, Hard Power Politics, and Drones”, Strategika, Hoover Institution, July 9, 2025.
Drones in the Ukraine – Russia Conflict
Russia’s Drones – Mass Terror on Ukraine’s Cities. By saturating the skies of Ukraine, Moscow hopes to exhaust Ukraine’s interceptors and air defense teams. This is causing sleepless nights spent in shelters by residents of Kyiv and other cities. Many of these munitions are now targeting areas in the west of Ukraine – an area once considered relatively safe. Russia’s use of the Shahed drones began in late 2022. Their low cost and relatively easy production have made them central to Moscow’s air assault strategy. In June 2025 Moscow launched a record 5,337 Shahed-type drones. “Russia’s tactic is obvious – Shahed drone ‘terror’ now reaches all of Ukraine”, by Tim Zadorozhnyy, Kyiv Independent, July 11, 2025.
Drones vs. Russian Tanks. Russia is finding out that, at least for the next few years, Russian tanks are not supreme on the battlefield. Russia’s ability to produce tanks and armored vehicles is not fast enough to keep up with the pace of losses on the battlefield due to Ukrainian drones. It is still adding tanks to its inventory, but concentrating on older, cheaper models that are easier to maintain and are not as painful to lose. “Why Russia is Betting on Old Tanks”, by Ben Spencer, International Policy Digest, July 12, 2025.
Drones Have Frozen Front Lines in Ukraine. The speed and scale of production of drones in the Ukraine conflict means that soldiers can’t emerge from their bunkers without falling prey to a drone. The front line is at a standstill because of rapid innovations in drone technology. Each side has hundreds of them constantly in the air across the 750-mile front line. “A Never-Ending Supply of Drones Has Frozen the Front Lines in Ukraine”, by Ian Lovett and Daniel Kiss, The Wall Street Journal, July 13, 2025. (subscription)
UK Providing Drones to Ukraine. The United Kingdom has delivered thousands of uncrewed systems to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion began. This includes long-range attack drones, first person view (FPV), loitering munitions, and ISR drones. “UK drone support to Ukraine tops 70,000 in expanding effort”, UK Defence Journal, July 14, 2025.
Drones in Africa
African Drone Use Grows. Over the past few years the acquisition of drones by African states has grown significantly and the drones have taken on an important role in conflicts or counterinsurgency efforts. However, the effectiveness of the drones can sometimes be overstated. “Drones Aren’t the Solution to Africa’s Security Crises”, Modern War Institute, July 7, 2025.
Sudan and Drones. Albadawi Rahmtail writes about the use of unmanned systems of various types employed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) that are fighting the government’s Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). The RSF has been using the drones since the start of the conflict two years ago; however, they have now been using ‘strategic’ drones – ones with greater payloads and longer range. It remains to be seen if the RSF can translate this new capability into tactical or strategic success. “Drones in the Sudanese War”, Military Africa, June 18, 2025.
U.S. Trying to Keep Pace
U.S. Is Playing Catchup. The U.S. military and American drone companies are lagging behind China in technology. The U.S. also is behind in training soldiers to use drones and to defend against them. While the United States excels in making larger, sophisticated drones like the Reaper and Predator, it is way behind in making smaller and cheaper drones. “Drones are Key to Winning Wars Now. The U.S. Makes Hardly Any”, by Farah Stockman, The New York Times, July 13, 2025.
DoD Memo – Unleashing U.S. Miltary Drone Dominance. Published on July 10, 2025, this memorandum for senior Pentagon Leadership, combatant commands, and defense agencies, outlines the authorities to procure and operate drones for the warfighters. The intent is to bolster the nascent U.S. drone manufacturing base, power technological advancement in drone development, and implement drone capability into all relevant combat training. (PDF, 8 pages)
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25995487-250710-dod-memo-unleashing-us-military-drone-dominance/
U.S. Military’s Drone Program. Sweeping changes by the Pentagon mean small drones will be treated like ammunition and the process to buy them with become easier. This means that small, inexpensive drones will be accounted for as consumable commodities, not durable property. This new policy will result in a proliferation of small drones across every unit that can use the capability to defeat the enemy in combat. Currently, Ukrainian drone producers can churn out 200,000 drones a month. It will be interesting to see if the U.S. can match or exceed that production capability. “Pentagon Just Made a Massive, Long Overdue Shift to Arm Its Troops with Thousands of Drones”, by Joseph Trevithick, TWZ, July 10, 2025.
New Capabilities for SOF Drones. Super quiet special operations forces drones are being modified to launch even smaller drones. The air-launched drones will be a major force multiplier for SOF. The War Zone, July 11, 2025.
Counter-Drone TF. The Army will lead a new group that will attempt to coordinate the different service branches efforts to develop ways to take out enemy uncrewed vehicles and drones. “Pentagon Sets Up Interservice Counter-drone Task Force”, Task and Purpose, July 6, 2025.
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