Drones and improvisation: CNN reports new level of Ukraine-Russia battle of wits
Photo: The war in Ukraine has become a competition of innovation and improvisation (Getty Images)
Improvisation and technological innovations are radically changing modern warfare. Today, both Ukraine and Russia increasingly turn simple airplanes, drones, and old munitions into combat platforms, reports CNN.
The war between Ukraine and Russia has long ceased to be only a matter of the number of weapons as technological innovations and the ability to adapt quickly play a decisive role.
Both sides use various technical solutions – from light aircraft with bomb loads to maritime drones and guided bombs with a range of about 200 km.
One example of such a simple but effective method was the strike on an explosives factory in Dzerzhinsk, carried out by a light aircraft with automatic navigation and a primitive bomb. According to reports, similar operations are conducted by the 14th Regiment of Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces.
Russian forces have begun using guided aerial bombs with a jet engine and a range of up to approximately 200 km, which far exceeds the capabilities of conventional glide bombs and complicates the work of Ukraine’s air defense.
The widespread adoption of artificial intelligence, robotics, and unmanned systems is also changing the battlefield. Particularly notable Ukrainian achievements have been maritime drones, which have affected the balance of power at sea.
The use of light aircraft armed with machine guns to intercept enemy drones shows that simple modernized tools can provide a tangible advantage.
The authors of the piece emphasize that serial production of high-tech systems takes years, whereas rapid improvisation often determines outcomes in the moment. For this reason, modern warfare has become a continuous technical competition – from low-cost “Frankensteins” to complex missile and drone systems.
