I honestly think that WW3 is going to be known as the 'Drone Wars', and that the use of drones is only going to increase going forward, not shrink.Welp...that's definitely one way to win the drone war.
Depends entirely on the EW environment. Because cheap drone swarms are worthless when subjected to enough EM energy.I honestly think that WW3 is going to be known as the 'Drone Wars', and that the use of drones is only going to increase going forward, not shrink.
True, but that much EW energy also tends to ground friendly drones, and take a lot of power to sustain long term.Depends entirely on the EW environment. Because cheap drone swarms are worthless when subjected to enough EM energy.
It doesn't need to be on for long. Detection levels find the swarm. Then you amp it up to drop them from the sky.True, but that much EW energy also tends to ground friendly drones, and take a lot of power to sustain long term.
It also fouls your regular comms, and might even mess with a Starlink connection if it is severe enough.
I don't doubt that the AEGIS system arrays are capable of jamming/EW neutralizing of smaller drone swarms.It doesn't need to be on for long. Detection levels find the swarm. Then you amp it up to drop them from the sky.
I'm pretty sure the Aegis Systems are perfectly capable of this already.
As i see it, drones are just a clever way to break through the pricing wall of conventional precision munitions, which is what they are. Digital age radio command guided munitions, sacrificing the raw dynamic performance and sensor capabilities of classic precision munitions for the benefit of costing sometimes a tiny fraction of those, often combined with the fact that flying slowly saves energy for a far longer range than flying fast like most precision munitions do, which has its pros and cons.Jamming is a very effective way to counter UAVs.
That and anti drone SHORAD.
Drones have a place but will not replace what we already have, just add to it.
The big question is going to be what happens when actually competent militaries have to tangle with them.As i see it, drones are just a clever way to break through the pricing wall of conventional precision munitions, which is what they are. Digital age radio command guided munitions, sacrificing the raw dynamic performance and sensor capabilities of classic precision munitions for the benefit of costing sometimes a tiny fraction of those, often combined with the fact that flying slowly saves energy for a far longer range than flying fast like most precision munitions do, which has its pros and cons.
And once you get out of the territory of cheap kamikaze drones, it's just smaller, or not so small at all aircraft on radio guidance or autopilot, with often similar pricing.
ECM is the easiest way, but there are plenty of other ways involving just the one method.The big question is going to be what happens when actually competent militaries have to tangle with them.
Overpowering them with ECM seems promising, but will it actually hold up in battlefield conditions?
SPAAGs and small portable flak guns will be making a comeback; will they be cost effective?
Will higher-budget counter-drone drones be a cost-effective way for better militaries to deal with low-end drone spam?
A lot of this stuff we won't really know for sure until it's tested under battlefield conditions.
Hmm, so the US secret superweapon is spherical...ECM is the easiest way, but there are plenty of other ways involving just the one method.
It isn't just jamming.
But thay is a sphere I sadly can not comment on
No...you heard nothing.Hmm, so the US secret superweapon is spherical...
Same problem as with old command guidance missiles. Possibly? Hard to answer definitely, it is a field for very quickly iterating and unpredictable arms race between ECM and ECCM. Ukraine kinda already has that happen.The big question is going to be what happens when actually competent militaries have to tangle with them.
Overpowering them with ECM seems promising, but will it actually hold up in battlefield conditions?
At scale, possibly. At least not as bankruptcy inducing as 100k a pop missiles. The same digital revolution that made compact drones possible can make widespread light and cheap SPAAGs effective against drones. As i said before, it's possible that soon some of the RWS on all the APCs, IFVs and tanks will double as light SPAAGs.SPAAGs and small portable flak guns will be making a comeback; will they be cost effective?
A drone fast enough for interceptions and big enough to soak the recoil of a weapon to do it cheaply... Theoretically possible, but damn won't be cheap, and the control technology may not be reliable and quick enough yet to allow accurate fire.Will higher-budget counter-drone drones be a cost-effective way for better militaries to deal with low-end drone spam?
There's a lot of testing under battlefield conditions now, and with anything regarding drones, other high fidelity testing is also easier than, say, testing anti ship weapons.A lot of this stuff we won't really know for sure until it's tested under battlefield conditions.
Jamming is a very effective way to counter UAVs.
That and anti drone SHORAD.
Drones have a place but will not replace what we already have, just add to it.
I don't think so.I think drones will replace attack helicopters. They both sort of fill the same niche but drones are significantly cheaper.
While i have no doubt that attack helicopters can still dishing out, it's how much they can take that's an issue. They work great in permissive environment, but outside of that, they have to cease using many of the capabilities they have and work so cautiously that you may as well use a drone or jet for better effect. If everyone will start spamming light AA against drones, that will also make things even worse for helicopters as a side effect.I don't think so.
Drones are not as nimble as a helicopter, in the sense of CUAV, and FPV drones, while numerous and small, arnt guranteed to always be able to have them over large swathes.
Attack copters are able to cover large areas and have multiple ways of taking out various things
Nit able to carry AS much as a helicopterWhile i have no doubt that attack helicopters can still dishing out, it's how much they can take that's an issue. They work great in permissive environment, but outside of that, they have to cease using many of the capabilities they have and work so cautiously that you may as well use a drone or jet for better effect. If everyone will start spamming light AA against drones, that will also make things even worse for helicopters as a side effect.
And then there are beginnings of drone helicopters, there's already an APKWS armed Firescout variant, Israelis have one too, probably more in the works, without pilot and cheaper, one can afford to use them with less caution than normal attack helicopters.