The news on how drones are changing the battlefield continues to appear in the media each week – with new developments and commentary providing informative and interesting reading. This week we have an update on a new U.S. drone called the MQ-25 Stingray, reports on drone warfare in the Ukraine-Russia war, and information on drones in general around the world. Curated articles on the topics below are provided:
- MQ-25 Stingray
- Drones and Land Warfare
- UAS, AI, and ATAK
- MQ-9 Reaper
- sUAS Master Trainer Course
- “Spot, Jam, and Zap”
- Ukraine Drone Lessons for the U.S.
- Kevlar Fiber-Optics and Drones
- Ukraine’s Interceptor Drones
- Agentic AI
- Drones and Doctrine
- Britain’s LACP
MQ-25 Stingray
The U.S. Navy is developing an aircraft carrier-based unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to perform aerial refueling and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. The MQ-25 Stingray, if the system enters production in FY2026 as planned, would be the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DOD’s) first unmanned tanker and the Navy’s first carrier-based unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Learn more about the Stingray in “MQ-25 Stingray: Background and Issues for Congress”, Congressional Research Service (CRS IF12972), August 8, 2025. https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF12972
Image. MQ-25 Stingray at Chambers Field onboard Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia (Nov 10, 2021, by Samantha Jenkins, Navy)
U.S. and Drones
Drones and Land Warfare. Amos Fox provides insight on the extent that drones are changing how combatants win and lose wars. He wades through the “excitement and institutional bias” on drones found in open-source information and examines their contextual relevance in their contributions to land warfare. “Drones are Game-Changing, but They Are Not the Answer to the Inherent Challenges of Land War”, Small Wars Journal, August 6, 2025.
UAS, AI, and ATAK. The U.S. Army C5ISR Center is working on a new solution for infantry squads where a small unmanned aerial system (UAS) using artificial intelligence can autonomously conduct area searching target detection, and track and follow high-priority targets. Along with this capability is the added feature of sending the feed to an Android Tactical Assault Kit interface (ATAK). “C5ISR Center research connects aided target recognition with small UAS for greater squad lethality”, U.S. Army, August 11, 2025.
MQ-9 Reaper – An Iconic UAV. The Reaper has been widely used for counterterrorism, close air support, and reconnaissance over the past few decades around the world. It has long-endurance and the ability to operate at high-altitudes and conduct precision strike missions. It is used by the US Air Force, the Central Intelligence Agency, and a number of allied countries. It is the follow-on UAV for the MQ-1 Predator. While it was extensively used during the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) era, its effectiveness in a highly contested area against a near-peer adversary is questionable. Read more in an article by Harrison Kass entitled “Why is the MQ-9 Reaper Such an Iconic Aircraft”, National Interest, August 9, 2025.
Army’s Counter Drone Lasers. Unmanned aerial systems are becoming increasingly deadly on the battlefield and militaries across the world are trying to come up with ways to counter these drones. Directed energy weapons hold a lot of promise – they provide a relatively low cost per shot. Thus far these systems are still in the development stage – with 17 different directed energy weapon protypes. Some of these systems have already been deployed – to include sites in the Middle East. “US Army Must “Work Harder” on Anti-Drone Warfare, General Says”, The National Interest, August 10, 2025.
Fort Benning’s sUAS Master Trainer Course. The U.S. Army ha a course designed to empower units to develop their own sUAS training programs and operators. The three-week sUAS Master Training Course is designed for NCOs, officers, and warrant officers to help them establish a units operator training course. Graduates earn a U2 skill identifier which signifies their specialized knowledge. One of the drones introduced in the course is the Skydio RQ-28 Alpha – a short-range reconnaissance drone. “Fort Benning prepares Soldiers to fly, fight with drones”, U.S. Army, August 8, 2025.
“Spot, Jam, and Zap”. The U.S. is testing technology to counter drones. This includes using computerized rifle sights and backpack-portable jammers. Read more in “Armies Tormented by Drones Innovate Ways to Spot, Jam and Zap on the Cheap”, by Daniel Michaels, The Wall Street Journal, August 10, 2025. (subscription)
Drones and the Ukraine – Russia Conflict
Ukraine Drone Lessons for the U.S. A former special operations veteran of the United States who has been on the frontlines of Ukraine provides an unfiltered personal account of today’s war. He currently works under a Ukrainian Special Operations Forces regiment and actively participates in rotary and fixed wing drone strike operations. He describes the typical life of a “Ukrainian drone fighter” – ranging from actions on the frontline with small tactical drones and deep in the rear working with the larger drones hitting strategic targets. He also provides recommendations for the United States military on how to prepare for the ground-breaking changes in warfare due to the introduction of drones on the battlefield. “From the Front Lines of Ukraine: A Soldier’s Warning to America”, The Cipher Brief, August 11, 2025.
Kevlar-Fiber Optics and Military Drones. A new type of optical fiber is being introduced that will improve durability and performance in drone operations. The addition of Kevlar has increased the resistance to breakage during high-speed maneuvers of fiber-guided FPV drones. “China-Russia Joint Venture Develops New Kevlar-Fiber Optics to Power Military Drones”, United24 Media, August 7, 2025.
Ukraine’s Interceptor Drones. The current barrage of drones and missiles launched from Russian occupied areas of Ukraine into Ukrainian cities is being blunted by cheap interceptor drones that are massed produced. These special drones have been a boon for Ukraine’s dwindling stock of air defence missile systems. “Ukraine bets big on interceptor drones as low-cost air shield”, Reuters, August 4, 2025.
Drones Around the World
Agentic AI. A military model in which autonomous systems are deployed to drive planning, logistics, operations, and intelligence – known as Agentic artificial intelligence – is set to disrupt long-established doctrines and staff organizations of militaries around the world. Two countries, the U.S. and China, are making significant investments in Agentic AI. “Agentic AI: Does the Future of Warfare Look Autonomous?”, IntelBrief, The Soufan Center, August 6, 2025.
Drones and Doctrine. The Ukraine conflict has demonstrated how drones are reshaping the modern battlefield. They are proving to be devastating tools of frontline attrition as well as being able to hit strategic targets deep behind enemy lines. However, the use of drones needs to be matched up with the appropriate doctrine to effectively become a strategic weapon that will yield a decisive victory. Read more in an article by the Modern War Institute at West Point, August 4, 2025.
Britain’s LACP. The United Kingdom is working on plans to field an autonomous aircraft that will work in conjunction with the Apache AH-64E attack helicopter. The planned Land Autonomous Collaborative Platform (LACP) will be an uncrewed air system (UAS) able to perform multiple types of missions to include reconnaissance, target acquisition, strike, and more. It will be able to carry payloads of around 200kg and have a vertical takeoff and landing capability. “British Army seeks drones to fly with Apache gunships”, UK Defence Journal, August 11, 2025.
