In June 2023, the world witnessed a monumental shift in military operations as Ukrainian and Israeli forces executed unprecedented missions that showcased the evolving landscape of warfare.
On June 1, under the banner of Operation Spider’s Web, Ukraine deployed hundreds of short-range one-way attack drones into Russian territory, successfully damaging or destroying at least 11 Russian strategic bombers.
This operation exemplified a significant tactical achievement, reflecting Ukraine’s growing capabilities and the creative application of drone warfare.
Then, starting on June 13, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, which involved the use of smuggled one-way attack drones to dismantle Iranian air defense systems.
This operation enabled Israel to gain near-total control of Iranian airspace, highlighting how modern technologies are reshaping military strategies around the globe.
Both operations collectively demonstrate that inexpensive uncrewed weapons systems are rewriting the rules of engagement on the battlefield.
The cost efficiency of drones, priced at thousands of dollars each, allowed both Ukraine and Israel to inflict damage worth millions, marking a pivotal shift in how modern militaries approach warfare.
Ukraine’s officials estimate that one-way attack drones now account for a staggering 70 percent of frontline casualties in the ongoing conflict with Russia, underscoring their growing dominance as a tactical asset.
Eric Schmidt, chair of the U.S. National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence, has argued that the proliferation of cheap drones may soon render costly military platforms like tanks obsolete.
Amid these developments, there is a pressing question about how countries, particularly the United States, must adapt to this evolving nature of combat.
Despite the evident trend towards low-cost, high-impact drone warfare, the U.S. Department of Defense remains focused on traditional, expensive weapon systems.
This was highlighted in Operation Midnight Hammer on June 22, where more than 125 U.S. aircraft, including B-2 bombers, targeted Iranian nuclear sites—illustrating that modern warfare still entails significant investment in high-cost capabilities.
However, the tactics employed in Ukraine and Israel position cheap drones as a critical element in a mixed-force strategy that could redefine future military engagements.
Critically, the United States has directed tens of billions of dollars toward maintaining and upgrading its fleet of aircraft carriers and fighter jets like the F-35, while investing just $500 million in drones through the Replicator Initiative in its 2023 budget.
This minimal investment in drone technology starkly contrasts the potential need for a substantial pivot towards low-cost drone production if the U.S. intends to remain competitive in high-intensity warfare.
Transitioning toward a balanced force structure that consists of cheaper, numerous assets alongside fewer advanced platforms will demand significant shifts in military procurement and operational strategy.
The successes observed in Ukraine and Israel demonstrate not just the feasibility, but also the advantages of employing precise mass attacks in operations, particularly against sophisticated military adversaries.
In Operation Spider’s Web, Ukraine utilized several innovative technologies, including an automated autopilot system enabling drones to navigate despite communication disruptions.
Additionally, an AI-enabled targeting system helped identify and track Russian aircraft, showcasing how emerging tech integrates with traditional military strategies to optimize outcomes.
The effectiveness of such operations reinforces a key lesson from the current conflict: sophisticated, high-cost military assets are increasingly vulnerable to concentrated attacks by lower-cost systems, especially when these systems are unguarded.
Operation Rising Lion illustrates how low-cost drone capabilities can overcome traditional defenses, with Israeli agents smuggling and assembling drone components within Iran to conduct surprise strikes effectively.
The asymmetric costs imposed on adversaries by employing precision mass weapons create a new dynamic in global military engagements.
For instance, despite the ongoing war’s intricacies, Ukraine has claimed it destroyed more than 40 Russian aircraft, with the economic disparity in casualties being profound.
The drones used in Ukraine’s Operation Spider’s Web cost a mere fraction of the advanced aircraft they targeted, exemplifying how a well-structured drone strategy can economically level the battlefield.
This principle is critical, especially as the United States evaluates its military investments in light of adversaries that are rapidly adopting similar drone warfare strategies.
While Ukraine and Israel’s operations have showcased the power of drones, they also reflect an emerging reality: conventional forces relying too heavily on high-cost legacy systems may struggle in prolonged conflicts.
This is further complicated by the stark contrast in production capabilities; while Ukraine now produces millions of drones annually, nations with expensive, traditional military frameworks may find it prohibitively slow to regenerate lost assets.
Moreover, Moscow’s response to the Spider’s Web operation demonstrates that adversaries are also enhancing their drone capabilities, employing large-scale drone attacks to pressure Ukrainian air defenses, illustrating the ongoing arms race in aerial warfare.
The need for a strategic approach that integrates these low-cost systems with legacy weaponry is evident.
In Operation Rising Lion, Israel’s use of uncrewed drones to neutralize Iranian air defense systems significantly reduced the risks involved for its crewed platforms, allowing them to target critical sites with minimal engagement.
This pattern of combining cheap drone operations with high-end assets creates a flexible and effective military strategy that has proven vital in recent military engagements.
While embracing low-cost systems, militaries should not abandon investment in advanced traditional capabilities, as they continue to serve strategic purposes in modern warfare.
The case of Iran exemplifies how over-reliance on precise mass systems can lead to inefficiencies, as its extensive drone program struggles against better-equipped adversaries due to a lack of a modern air force.
Bringing together diverse systems ensures broader tactical options, reinforcing the necessity for military planners to harmonize their investments across different technologies.
The success of these recent operations also reinforces historical lessons on the importance of adaptability in military strategy—those that fail to evolve often face catastrophic outcomes.
A historical lens reveals examples of how established militaries have had to confront new technologies that disrupted traditional paradigms, from the Japanese attacks on British battle cruisers to the English victory at the Battle of Crécy, showcasing the need to embrace change.
As the United States and other nations prepare for future conflicts, they must develop a more agile approach to military funding that embraces the dual needs of modern warfare—investing in both low-cost drone systems and retaining the utility of high-end legacy capabilities.
Overall, the recent operations by Ukraine and Israel signify a crucial turning point in military strategy, heralding an era where precise mass is not just advantageous but necessary for effective deterrence and combat readiness.
image source from：foreignaffairs
