Executive Summary
This paper substantiates the feasibility of establishing drone-assault units as a priority for Ukraine's Defense Forces, proposing a comprehensive model that integrates organizational structures, combat algorithms, and personnel training. It argues that drones should be a system-forming factor in combat, not just auxiliary tools, to enhance combat effectiveness and minimize personnel losses. The authors provide practical recommendations for their organizational and staffing structure.
Why It Matters
This document is crucial for defense analysts as it outlines a new military doctrine centered on drone-assault units, demonstrating how Ukraine is adapting to modern warfare to achieve asymmetric advantages and minimize casualties against a superior enemy.
Key Takeaways
- Drone-assault units are proposed as a new tactical formation where unmanned systems are the primary means of reconnaissance and engagement, with infantry serving as the final element.
- A detailed organizational and staffing structure for a drone-assault company (90-120 personnel) is outlined, emphasizing continuous cycles of detection, engagement, assessment, and position seizure.
- The implementation of drone-assault units significantly reduces personnel losses, increases operational tempo, and exerts psychological pressure on the enemy, transforming assault operations into technologically controlled processes.
Strategic Relevance
The shift from traditional infantry-centric assaults to drone-assault units represents a fundamental change in military doctrine, prioritizing information dominance and non-contact engagement to preserve personnel and achieve tactical superiority in high-intensity conflicts. This model offers a blueprint for other nations facing similar challenges.