Drone technology has fundamentally changed the nature of warfare, with conflicts now being fought from hidden bunkers using gaming consoles. In eastern Ukraine, fibre optic first-person view (FPV) drones have become a dominant weapon, capable of destroying expensive tanks, aircraft, and logistics equipment at a fraction of the cost of traditional military assets.
UK's Defence Strategy and Drone Investment
Outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced an extra £5bn for drones operating on land, sea, and air as part of the government's new defence strategy, unveiled ahead of next week's Nato summit in Turkey. However, military experts question whether this investment is sufficient given the rapid evolution of drone technology.
The UK's total defence spending over the next four years is £300bn, with only £5bn pledged for drone capabilities. Critics argue that expensive tanks and fighter jets are becoming obsolete, as even cheap FPV drones can destroy them with ease.
The Reality of Drone Warfare in Ukraine
Luke Harding, senior international correspondent who has reported extensively from Ukraine, describes the terrifying nature of modern drone attacks. “I cannot overstate how terrifying these drones are,” he says. “On my most recent trip to Ukraine, I went to Zaporizhzhia to see a Ukrainian reconnaissance drone unit. We were outside taking photos of them and an FPV drone appeared on the tree line and turned towards us. We didn’t know if it was Russian or Ukrainian so we all threw ourselves back in the dugout. Thankfully, it was Ukrainian. But you cannot outrun them. It’s a bit like Blade Runner meets the first world war.”
Fibre optic cables, which look like spider webs draped over trees and bushes, make drones almost undetectable and unhackable. These cables stretch for miles, allowing drones to hunt targets deep in enemy territory. The technology has been crucial in holding back Russia's invasion, with Ukraine now gaining momentum despite being vastly outnumbered.
Threats Beyond Ukraine
Defence chiefs are concerned about future drone attacks from Russia, especially after the war in Ukraine ends. Last summer, Russian drones entering Polish airspace triggered a major Nato response. Luke Harding notes, “There’s pretty compelling evidence that Russia is using its shadow fleet to send drones to overfly airports, ports and military facilities in western Europe. Russia thinks it is at war with the west in a rolling, existential struggle with European countries, particularly the UK.”
Organised crime and terror groups also pose a threat. “The new drone technology has enormous implications for criminal gangs and terrorism. I remember back in the 90s when the IRA managed to fire a mortar at Downing Street. Now, if you send in 20 drones and two get through, that’s a success. The implications are terrifying,” says Harding.
Changing Face of Soldiers
The rise of drones is also changing who becomes a soldier. “Weedy gamers” with experience playing video games are now crucial fighters in Ukraine. Headsets and goggles originally used for PlayStation and Xbox have become tools of war. “Forget the macho guy with a serrated knife. Think of a bloke in a basement with a latte tracking a drone on a screen,” says Harding.
Harding suggests the UK should establish a Royal Naval Drone College in Greenwich to train gamers as drone operators. “We need a Royal Naval Drone College in Greenwich where we hire a whole load of gamers and train them. They then become the drone squadron,” he says.
Funding Challenges
With a £4.7bn black hole in the budget, the next prime minister—likely Andy Burnham—faces tough decisions on defence spending. Balancing the demands of the defence department with the needs of a squeezed population will be challenging. At the Nato summit in Turkey, leaders will seek to impress US President Donald Trump with investments in traditional military equipment, but Harding warns that war has changed forever.
“The invasion of Ukraine has transformed all wars in the 21st century. They are completely different to things that governments have previously prepared for. Whether it’s battle cruisers or armoured vehicles, these big-ticket items are becoming obsolete. They are dodos. You can take even a cheap first-person view drone and destroy a lot of this equipment – or anything else that moves on the ground. This has profound consequences,” he says.
