Commercial Drone Tech Proliferates in Ukraine.

• Author: Moumen, Hana
• Position: NDIA POLICY POINTS

The Ukraine war has intensified the use of commercial drones, giving the nation an unforeseen opportunity to counter Russian aggression. As a result, drones and their complementary equipment have become among the most sought-after technologies in 2022.

This development has prompted a discussion concerning the policy implications of these commercial-off-the-shelf technologies and their role on the battlefield.

After the full-scale invasion, the Ukrainian government restarted the Aerorozvidka unit--which roughly translates to "aerial reconnaissance"--a team of Ukrainian civilians and military personnel whose main purpose was to track Russian troops with customized commercial drones. The results of this initiative have been consequential to Ukraine's resistance efforts thus far. On July 20, Ukrainian troops carried out a deadly strike on a nuclear power plant near the Russian-occupied city of Zaporizhzhia using a PD-2 kamikaze drone, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.

Ukraine has also received drones from the United States and other NATO countries that have been used to counter Russian tanks. For example, Ukraine's Turkish-made TB-2S have carried out numerous successful operations against Russian forces.

Conversely, Russia's advantage in the drone war has been diminished. As of May, approximately 50 Orlan-10s have been downed by Ukrainian kinetic weapons and jamming systems, according to the Ukranian Ministry of Defense. Further, it has been reported that the Russian defense industry has encountered difficulties in producing large quantities of missile-firing drones that can fly for long periods.

Having witnessed the emergence of drones in battle, it is imperative to understand why such technology has gained prominence.

Roger Bohn, professor emeritus of technology management at the University California San Diego, in an interview said, "Both knowledge and components are now widely available on the internet. A self-taught team can assemble a custom remotely piloted vehicle from mailorder parts in a few days."

This fact enable drones to present several key advantages.

First, depending on the particular model, they can be inexpensive and convenient: they can be piloted without specialized training and carried in a backpack. They can also extend the range of action of an army and inform the ground activities with geospatial data. Additionally, drones can be used to relay information and push specific narratives. Drone footage can...