Essential approaches to the use of combat drones. Specific elements of the armed conflict in Ukraine

Abstract

Although used many years ago, by multinational allied forces acting in coalition in Iraq and Afghanistan, combat drones known as “unmanned aircraft systems” (UAS), “unmanned aerial vehicles” (UAV)”, “unmanned combat aerial vehicles” (UCAV) or “remotely piloted vehicles” (RPV) represent a formidable weapon both for NATO states and for the forces fighting in Ukraine. Considering their essential characteristics, dimensions, load capacity, speed, range, flexibility, ease of operation and low costs, these means of combat come with huge advantages in achieving the operational objectives of combatant structures - regardless of the category they belong to. Thus, the present study includes a theoretical approach that can actually be implemented in the military operational realm, because it includes details and essential references to combat drones designed, produced and used by belligerent and non-belligerent states in connection with the armed conflict taking place on Ukrainian territory. Starting from the objective of the study, a series of important directions resulted for strengthening the actual potential of the joint and tactical forces to be used in national and multinational context within the North Atlantic Alliance, against the aggressive force of an adversary state.