Ukrainian officer outlines future of drones

Drones still have enormous potential for the future, particularly in the areas of autonomous guidance technology, enemy target recognition, the integration of artificial intelligence, and reducing the role of service members in operating them.

Captain Anton Bobrovskyi, commander of the drone systems specialists training company at the 199th Training Center of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces, CE Report quotes Ukrinform.

Bobrovskyi said that drones still had enormous potential and recalled an event from 2022, when, during the administration of Joseph Biden, the leader of the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda had been eliminated using a reconnaissance-type drone that deployed small blades. He explained that a small unmanned aircraft, smaller than a camera lens cap, could carry a 9-milligram shaped charge capable of carrying out the targeted elimination of a specific person.

According to him, Ukraine has not yet fully mastered autonomous guidance technology, enemy target recognition, the integration of artificial intelligence into drones, or ways of reducing the role of service members in operating them. Regarding the latter, there are certain systems, such as bomber-type drones, where the pilot can be located 200–300 kilometers away from the drone itself and launch it remotely.

He added that the future made possible by drones could be such that, after the drones had completed their work, infantry would only need to arrive to collect prisoners, raise the flag, and work with local residents. He emphasized that the infantry would still have the final say.

As reported, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that new Ukrainian-made drones would be capable of reaching targets more than 3,000 kilometers away.

Photo: 199th Training Center of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces