Since the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian war in 2022, the rapid upgrading of technology and tactics on the battlefield has provided a profound learning sample for the armies of various countries. Recently, the two countries have launched large-scale drone attacks again, making this conflict a new testing ground for drone warfare, electronic warfare and artillery strikes. Through the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, we can explore the key role and future development trends of these technologies in modern warfare.

Drones: "Clairvoyance" and "Air Killers" on the battlefield

Drones have become an indispensable equipment in the Russian-Ukrainian war. In attack and defense, the use of drones has greatly increased battlefield transparency. Surveillance drones can monitor the front line in real time, detect troop movements, and transmit target coordinates back to the command center. Professor O'Brien of the University of St. Andrews pointed out that the acceleration of this "kill chain" makes it difficult for tanks and armored forces to concentrate on the battlefield, further changing the mode of modern ground warfare.

Drones are not only used for surveillance, but also used as offensive weapons in large quantities. For example, Ukraine once relied on the Turkish-made TB-2 military drones to carry out effective strikes and even blocked the offensive of Russian armored forces. As the war progressed, both sides gradually turned to lower-cost "Kamikaze" drones. For example, Ukraine used cheap commercial drones as "air bombs", while Russia relied on Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones to interfere with Ukraine's air defense system in a group attack. These "suicide" drones effectively reduced the cost of combat, while making the enemy defenseless through intensive strikes.

Artillery: High-frequency, high-destructive battlefield main force

Artillery has become a frequently used destructive weapon in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. According to the Royal United Services Institute, Russia and Ukraine fire thousands of artillery shells every day to attack targets such as armored vehicles, fortifications, and supply stations. Russian Colonel Pitakov described artillery shells as "water and fuel" for war, which must be supplied continuously.

In terms of modern high-precision weapons, Ukraine mainly relies on the "Excalibur" guided artillery shells and HIMARS high-mobility multiple rocket systems provided by the West. These precision-guided weapons help Ukraine strike enemy ammunition depots and command centers behind the front line. However, Western arms companies have difficulty keeping up with the needs of the war in supplying conventional artillery shells, reflecting NATO's shortcomings in basic armament production. Russia, on the other hand, continues to use lower-cost conventional artillery and high-precision Krasnopol shells to make up for the technological gap.

Glide bombs: a new type of cheap destructive weapon

In the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the Russian army frequently used "glide bombs", a modified bomb with folding wings and a navigation system that can be launched from tens of kilometers away, causing great damage to fortifications and buildings in eastern Ukraine. Glide bombs are cheap, costing about $20,000 to $30,000 each. They can not only carry out long-range strikes, but are also difficult to be intercepted by Ukraine's existing air defense system. The low cost and high destructive power of this bomb make it an important choice for the Russian army to destroy targets on the battlefield.

Ukraine relies on glide bombs provided by Western countries, such as the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW), and tries to modify "precision small diameter bombs" to deal with long-range attacks by the enemy. Despite this, Ukraine still has far fewer glide bombs than Russia, which puts it at a disadvantage in long-range attack capabilities.

Electronic warfare: a cheap asymmetric tactic against high-precision weapons

The frequent use of electronic warfare in the Russian-Ukrainian war demonstrates its important position on the modern battlefield. Russian electronic warfare systems, such as the Zhitl communication jammer, block satellite and wireless communications by emitting electromagnetic pulses, making it difficult for Ukraine's drones and command systems to function effectively. Ukraine's Western-supplied equipment, such as the HIMARS system, also faces interference from electronic warfare systems, which has made countries re-recognize the role of electronic warfare in future conflicts.

According to Dr. Marina Miron of King's College London, Russia successfully paralyzed some of Ukraine's high-end systems through low-cost electronic warfare systems. This asymmetric tactic shows that even if NATO has more advanced technology, it needs to strengthen its military's adaptability in the event of interference. NATO's military commanders will have to reassess how to train troops in an electronic warfare environment and consider the impact of electronic warfare in tactics and weapons development.

Lessons from the Russian-Ukrainian conflict: implications for the development of future wars

The Russian-Ukrainian war showed a new application model of drones, artillery, glide bombs and electronic warfare in modern conflicts. This conflict reminds the global military of the following points:

Cooperation between drones and artillery: drones are not only surveillance tools, but also auxiliary equipment for firepower strikes, and will continue to play a key role in future wars. The armies of various countries need to strengthen the integration of drones and artillery systems to improve the efficiency of the "kill chain".

The growing demand for long-range precision strike weapons: Glide bombs, as low-cost and high-efficiency long-range attack tools, have become the new favorite on the battlefield. Future wars will rely more on low-cost, high-destructive long-range precision weapons, and the armies of various countries should increase their research and development efforts on such equipment.

The importance of electronic warfare is increasing: Electronic warfare systems can paralyze high-tech equipment at a relatively low cost. Electronic warfare needs to be included in the dominant position in future combat plans, and the troops' ability to respond in interference environments needs to be strengthened.

The criticality of supply chain management: The widespread demand for artillery shells, drones and electronic warfare equipment also highlights the importance of military supply chains. The Western arms industry needs to increase production capacity to cope with long-term and large-scale combat needs.

Rethinking global military technology

The Russian-Ukrainian war has demonstrated the complexity and technological development direction of modern warfare to the global military. Drones, glide bombs and electronic warfare systems have not only changed traditional combat methods, but also reminded the armies of various countries to rethink armament development and combat strategies. In the future, how to fight under information warfare and electronic interference and maintain efficient weapons supply will become a key factor affecting the outcome of war. In terms of information transparency, long-range strike capability and adaptability in electronic warfare environments, the global military will continuously optimize and improve the experience learned from the Russia-Ukraine war to meet the challenges of a new generation of warfare.