Drone innovation keeps Ukraine ahead in evolving aerial war

(KYIV, UKRAINE) – Incremental improvements in drone technology are helping Ukraine and its partners maintain an advantage over Russian forces in an increasingly complex aerial battlefield, according to industry experts.

Speaking on Times Radio’s Frontline programme, Vincent Gardner, operations director at British drone manufacturer SkyCutter, said the conflict has become a sustained war of attrition in which drones play a central role.

“It really is a war of attrition now. There is a force from the east being stopped at massive cost to life, and that is being predominantly stopped by drones from both sides,” he said.

Gardner described the evolution of drone warfare over the past three to four years as a continuous process of adaptation. Systems that are effective today may become obsolete within months as both sides seek to counter each other.

“It is cat and mouse on incremental improvements. What works today might not work in three months’ time,” he said.

He added that the rapid pace of technological change has reshaped the battlefield. Early phases of the war saw heavy use of mechanised equipment, much of which was repelled. Fighting has since shifted towards entrenched positions, with wide areas effectively controlled by drones.

“The front line can be a zone of around 20 kilometres where entering it puts you within reach of drones on both sides,” Gardner said.

He said the conflict has demonstrated that drones are likely to play a leading role in future conventional warfare where ground forces are deployed.

Gardner noted that drone effectiveness is not solely determined by numbers or production scale, but by selecting appropriate systems for specific missions.

“You would select the right tool for the job. It depends on the conflict and the scenario,” he said.

He also highlighted the growing role of larger drones, including heavy lift systems used for logistics and strike missions, though their impact depends on operational context.

“There is no doubt large drones will play a role. It depends on the situation and what you are trying to achieve,” he said.

On industrial strategy, Gardner said Europe must be able to scale production rapidly to avoid falling behind adversaries with established manufacturing capacity.

“If you are behind, you have further to catch up. That can be critical if a conflict arises,” he said.

He contrasted Ukraine’s decentralised network of drone developers with more centralised production models, warning that reliance on a single system can be risky.

“If something comes out that negates that platform, you are at a loss. Having a variety of options and continuous iteration is important,” he said.

Gardner added that future advances are likely to be driven more by software and artificial intelligence than hardware, including the ability to control multiple drones simultaneously.

“As long as you have a platform that can be updated, you extend its usable life,” he said.

He said the United States has recognised gaps in its drone capabilities and is moving to address them, while the United Kingdom faces challenges in funding and scaling its own drone arsenal.

“The number of drones in the UK military is not very high compared to others. It is a gap that needs to be filled sensibly,” he said.

Gardner said Ukraine and Russia continue to pursue different approaches to drone warfare, including the use of Iranian designed Shahed systems by Russian forces, which he said are used in large numbers and often target civilian infrastructure.

He concluded that the balance between the two sides remains fluid.

“Even if one side is doing better, give it three months and it could change,” he said.

The interview was produced by Times Radio as part of its Frontline series on the future of warfare.

(KYIV, UKRAINE) – Incremental improvements in drone technology are helping Ukraine and its partners maintain an advantage over Russian forces in an increasingly complex aerial battlefield, according to industry experts.

Speaking on Times Radio’s Frontline programme, Vincent Gardner, operations director at British drone manufacturer SkyCutter, said the conflict has become a sustained war of attrition in which drones play a central role.

“It really is a war of attrition now. There is a force from the east being stopped at massive cost to life, and that is being predominantly stopped by drones from both sides,” he said.

Gardner described the evolution of drone warfare over the past three to four years as a continuous process of adaptation. Systems that are effective today may become obsolete within months as both sides seek to counter each other.

“It is cat and mouse on incremental improvements. What works today might not work in three months’ time,” he said.

He added that the rapid pace of technological change has reshaped the battlefield. Early phases of the war saw heavy use of mechanised equipment, much of which was repelled. Fighting has since shifted towards entrenched positions, with wide areas effectively controlled by drones.

“The front line can be a zone of around 20 kilometres where entering it puts you within reach of drones on both sides,” Gardner said.

He said the conflict has demonstrated that drones are likely to play a leading role in future conventional warfare where ground forces are deployed.

Gardner noted that drone effectiveness is not solely determined by numbers or production scale, but by selecting appropriate systems for specific missions.

“You would select the right tool for the job. It depends on the conflict and the scenario,” he said.

He also highlighted the growing role of larger drones, including heavy lift systems used for logistics and strike missions, though their impact depends on operational context.

“There is no doubt large drones will play a role. It depends on the situation and what you are trying to achieve,” he said.

On industrial strategy, Gardner said Europe must be able to scale production rapidly to avoid falling behind adversaries with established manufacturing capacity.

“If you are behind, you have further to catch up. That can be critical if a conflict arises,” he said.

He contrasted Ukraine’s decentralised network of drone developers with more centralised production models, warning that reliance on a single system can be risky.

“If something comes out that negates that platform, you are at a loss. Having a variety of options and continuous iteration is important,” he said.

Gardner added that future advances are likely to be driven more by software and artificial intelligence than hardware, including the ability to control multiple drones simultaneously.

“As long as you have a platform that can be updated, you extend its usable life,” he said.

He said the United States has recognised gaps in its drone capabilities and is moving to address them, while the United Kingdom faces challenges in funding and scaling its own drone arsenal.

“The number of drones in the UK military is not very high compared to others. It is a gap that needs to be filled sensibly,” he said.

Gardner said Ukraine and Russia continue to pursue different approaches to drone warfare, including the use of Iranian designed Shahed systems by Russian forces, which he said are used in large numbers and often target civilian infrastructure.

He concluded that the balance between the two sides remains fluid.

“Even if one side is doing better, give it three months and it could change,” he said.

The interview was produced by Times Radio as part of its Frontline series on the future of warfare.