How Drones Fight

An in-depth analysis of how drones have revolutionized ground combat, including combat experience from recent wars.

Despite the dramatic effect drones have already had on the battlefield, drone technology is still in its infancy--perhaps analogous with at the stage of development that aircraft reached during World War I. Understanding what drones are currently capable of, how they operate, and how they may develop, is crucial for anyone with an interest in modern and future warfare.

Building on an introductory discussion into the engineering and physics of drones, their capabilities and limitations, historian and systems engineer Lars Celander surveys the different types of drones, detailing their navigation, communication and sensor systems and the various weapons a drone can be equipped with. He explains not only the tactics of drone operations but the various techniques, tactics, and weapons currently utilized in counter-drone warfare. The costs of drones, hit probabilities, attrition rates, and production volumes are covered to provide context to the technological discussion.

Analysis of how Azerbaijan used drones to defeat Armenia in 2020 and how drone warfare has evolved since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 demonstrates how drones are already revolutionizing warfare. The war in Ukraine is the first to see large-scale use of small drones, a usage so effective that it has rendered large-scale maneuver warfare largely impossible.

Taking into account technologies like AI, the book concludes with informed predictions into the further evolution of drones.