The rapid evolution of drone warfare in the Ukraine war has led to battles where nearly all combat is conducted by autonomous and semi-autonomous machines, both on the ground and in the air. This shift is bringing the world closer to the concept of “hyperwar,” where human commanders may struggle to react quickly enough to control their machines.
The Wall Street Journal highlighted a December offensive by Ukrainian forces in which about 50 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) executed an attack without human troops on the front line. The Ukrainian 13th National Guard Brigade Khartiya coordinated the operation, which successfully destroyed a Russian position near Kharkiv.
The attack, though not without challenges, served as a proof of concept. The UGVs faced difficulties navigating rough terrain, and human operators still played a crucial role in planning and execution. The drones, piloted in first-person view mode, maintained signal strength using backup drones and boosters. The operation even saw a rare machine-gun battle between a Ukrainian UGV and a Russian UAV.
This shift toward automated combat raises concerns about hyperwar, a state in which artificial intelligence (AI)-driven drone swarms engage at speeds beyond human capacity. While Ukraine, the U.S., and other nations are developing AI-driven swarming technology, current operations still require human coordination.
Ukraine’s advanced drone warfare capabilities have given it a strategic edge. Moscow has expressed frustration over Ukraine’s “deep strike” drone attacks on Russian oil, gas, and ammunition facilities. These strikes boost Ukrainian morale and disrupt Russian planning, though their overall impact on the war remains uncertain.
As both sides advance drone technology, the balance of power continues to shift. The prospect of fully autonomous combat looms, potentially reshaping the future of warfare.
