[Tech Talk] How War and Drones Have Evolved Over 2 Years

Drone Roles in the Russia-Ukraine War
From Turkiye's Bayraktar to Quadcopters
Endless Evolution... 'Tech Formula' Enters the War

Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are considered key players that have changed the dynamics of the Russia-Ukraine war. Military experts who have observed how small drones threaten heavy vehicles like tanks and armored personnel carriers have cautiously predicted the 'end of the tank.'

However, beneath the surface, the drone warfare between the two armies is a fierce game of cat and mouse. It is also the first case of technology being integrated into warfare. As a result, the drones currently used on the Ukrainian battlefield have become completely different from those that debuted two years ago.

Bayraktar Demonstrates the Potential of Drones in Modern Warfare

Bayraktar TB2 drone manufactured in Turkey. [Image source=YouTube]

Rewinding briefly to mid-2022, at the beginning of the war, the first drone to debut on the battlefield was the Turkish-made 'Bayraktar.' Measuring 6 meters in length and with a maximum takeoff weight of 700 kg, the Bayraktar can travel 300 km at a time and take off carrying a payload of 150 kg. It has enough power to carry 2 to 3 small missiles capable of destroying tanks.

At that time, the Bayraktar was a valuable asset for the Ukrainian forces, who were clearly at a disadvantage against Russian armored units. Small but agile and even affordable, it effectively targeted enemy tanks, armored vehicles, and anti-aircraft guns. Some Ukrainian soldiers even created and sang military songs themed around the Bayraktar.

Bayraktar aiming at the target [Image source=YouTube capture]

However, the Bayraktar had a fatal flaw. While its affordability was a definite advantage, it was quickly neutralized whenever proper fighter jets and anti-air missiles took to the skies. In fact, the period during which the Bayraktar was active coincided with internal issues within the Russian military that hindered the effective deployment of fighter jets and missiles. Once Russian missiles began functioning properly, the Bayraktar gradually disappeared from the battlefield.

Stopping Tanks with Explosives Attached to Drones... The Era of 'FPV Drones'

Subsequently, both sides shifted their focus to 'reconnaissance drones.' More precisely, these are First Person View (FPV) drones?small quadcopters equipped with cameras. These are inexpensive drones that anyone can purchase and use, even in Korea. Unlike the Bayraktar, these drones cannot fly hundreds of kilometers or drop multiple bombs, but they have become invaluable 'eyes' for soldiers on the ground.

Numerous videos shared through video streaming portals are all actually filmed on the battlefield using FPV drones.
[Image source=YouTube capture]

FPV drones quickly became essential equipment for every infantry squad. Today, numerous battlefield videos shared on social media platforms and YouTube were captured by FPV drones from both armies.

Recently, the Russian military has been operating so-called "Turtle Tanks," which are tanks covered with iron plates as a countermeasure against FPV drones.
[Image source=Capture from X]

These drones have even begun to fill the void left by the Bayraktar. Small bombs weighing 3 to 4 kg are attached to the drones and dropped vertically onto enemy armored vehicles and tanks. Modern tanks are massive iron vehicles weighing tens of tons, but bombs dropped from above remain highly threatening to the occupants inside. Even if the bombs do not cause significant damage, if they manage to sever the tank’s tracks, the tank comes to a halt.

Electronic Warfare and Electronic Countermeasures... An Endless Game of Tag

However, the effectiveness of FPV drones has recently declined due to electronic warfare equipment deployed by the Russian military. Electronic warfare equipment emits jamming electromagnetic waves targeting radar or radio communication frequencies, degrading or temporarily disabling electronic devices. Large-scale electronic warfare equipment can render the communication devices of small civilian drones useless in large numbers.

But the Ukrainian forces and their Western allies are not backing down easily. A UK startup called 'Evolve Dynamics,' which is helping Ukraine produce war drones, has developed new radio equipment capable of evading the jamming waves from electronic warfare devices.

The drone from the UK startup Evolve Dynamics has developed technology to evade the Russian military's electromagnetic frequencies by utilizing software updates. [Image source=Evolve Dynamics]

Electronic warfare and electronic countermeasures are a kind of game of tag. When attackers develop equipment to disable radios or radars, defenders tune radio software to evade the enemy’s jamming. In fact, over the past several months, Russia and Ukraine have chased each other’s radio frequencies, undergoing 85 software updates.

Evolution Over the Past Two Years, and the Evolution Two Years From Now

Drone warfare is expected to be recorded as the first case of 'tech' involvement in war. Traditionally, equipment used in warfare undergoes years of development, rigorous testing, and field verification before deployment. This means replacement cycles are slow.

However, drones are easily neutralized yet have enormous impact. Changing a few lines of source code can eliminate weaknesses or reveal new vulnerabilities. It resembles a strategic battle among hackers more than conventional warfare.

Moreover, actual tech capital is gradually making its mark in the military equipment sector. 'Anduril,' a defense tech startup born with support from the US defense industry and Silicon Valley, has developed a new concept drone that autonomously takes off and lands while automatically shooting down threats. 'Helsing,' a UK-German joint startup, specializes in developing defense artificial intelligence (AI).

Drone Roadrunner of 'Anduril' that takes off and lands vertically.
[Image source=Anduril]

The tech industry is characterized by rapid update cycles, fierce competition, and repeated innovation. With the introduction of tech formulas into war weapons, today’s drones are completely different from those that debuted two years ago. So, what will they look like two years from now? How close are we to the emergence of the 'killer robot' concept warned about by some scholars and human rights organizations?

For now, the urgent fire of war must be extinguished, but the enormous ethical questions looming over humanity’s future are slowly approaching.