Drones of Minimal Size Hold Significant Risks and Potential Advantages, According to Air Force Leader
Drones Transform Military Operations
Drones are revolutionizing warfare, particularly seen in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. But General Mark A. Milley, the top U.S. military officer, warns against drawing overzealous conclusions as America prepares to counter China and Russia.
"Drones offer both a threat and an opportunity," Milley explained at the Military Reporters and Editors Conference in Washington, D.C. on October 25. "They provide a cost-effective and precise method for striking targets, enhancing our combat airpower, sensing, and communications."
However, the effectiveness of drones in Ukraine might not hold the same weight in other geographical regions like the western Pacific, according to Milley.
"We must weigh the utility of drones across different areas," he added. "What works in Ukraine may not completely translate to the Indo-Pacific due to the distances involved."
Pentagon officials have observed the advantages of drones for both Russian and Ukrainian forces. Russia employs Iranian-made drones to attack Ukraine's energy infrastructure, while small quadcopter-style and first-person-view drones are used for reconnaissance and aerial strikes. Ukraine, for its part, developed long-range drones that can strike targets over 400 kilometers away.
The U.S. Defense Department recently granted $800 million to Ukraine's drone industry to bolster their long-range drone capabilities. This investment also benefits the U.S. as it pursues its future force design.
"Cheap, precise, and long-range — three words that don't usually go together," said Milley. "We are examining the potential of integrating such capabilities into our force."
Despite this, advanced systems the Air Force seeks for great power competition are generally more sophisticated and expensive than the UAVs proliferating in Ukraine's airspace. The Air Force is bullish on the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), envisioned as AI-enabled drones costing $25 million each, working alongside manned fighters and bombers. Milley claims that 150 CCAs will be in service within the next five years.
Milley emphasized that the CCAs are not ordinary quadcopter-style drones. "Our focus is on developing autonomous and collaborative drones of a different class," he clarified.
Another challenge is countering cheap drones used by adversaries, highlighted by attacks on U.S. troops in the Middle East and Iranian drone strikes against Israel. Milley underscores the increasing concern over countering cheap drone threats.
"The ease, affordability, and difficulty in attributing these attacks are unsettling," he said, revealing plans to develop countermeasures to deal with this new threat.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in U.S. Military Operations
The U.S. military is integrating drones more extensively across its operations, encouraged by recent executive orders that aim to expedite this process [4]. The focus includes intensifying drone operations, developing advanced technologies like Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) capabilities, and ensuring the security of the domestic drone industry [3][5].
The Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) initiative aims to develop AI-enabled drones to work seamlessly with manned aircraft as part of a broader strategy to strengthen air force capabilities and improve battlefield performance. However, details about the CCA's integration into U.S. military operations are still limited [6].
Drones in the Russia-Ukraine Conflict
In the Russia-Ukraine conflict, drones play crucial roles on both sides. Russia employs drones for reconnaissance and strike missions, while Ukraine leverages them for defensive operations, surveillance, and targeting enemy positions [2]. The conflict exemplifies the versatility and effectiveness of drones in modern warfare.
Countermeasures Against Cheap Drones
To counter cheap drone threats, several strategies are being developed. These include advanced detection systems, interception systems, electronic countermeasures, and enhanced Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities [1].
- The top U.S. military officer, General Mark A. Milley, highlighted the potential of drones in enhancing combat airpower, sensing, and communications, but warned about drawing overzealous conclusions while countering China and Russia.
- The use of drones in Ukraine has shown their cost-effective and precise ability to strike targets, with both Russian and Ukrainian forces employing them for various purposes, such as reconnaissance, aerial strikes, and attack on energy infrastructure.
- The U.S. Defense Department has granted $800 million to Ukraine's drone industry to bolster their long-range drone capabilities, an investment that benefits the U.S. as it pursues its future force design.
- The Air Force is heavily investing in the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), envisioned as AI-enabled drones costing $25 million each, to work alongside manned fighters and bombers, with plans to have 150 CCAs in service within the next five years.
- The increasing concern over countering cheap drone threats has led to plans for developing advanced detection systems, interception systems, electronic countermeasures, and enhanced Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.
