The Russian invasion of Ukraine has placed unbelievable pressure on drone developers on both sides of the war, who have responded with astounding innovations that include:
- fiber-optic drones (to prevent radio jamming)
- kamikaze sea drones, eventually equipped with anti-air missiles
- drones that fire shotguns
- bomber drones that drop mines and grenades
- drones that release flaming thermite into trenches
- long-range, aircraft-style drones that can substitute for small cruise missiles
- interceptor drones that hunt down other drones
- first-person view (FPV) drones so maneuverable they can be piloted right through a broken window pane to hit indoor targets
- ground drones for both combat and transport
Many drone developers are now chasing the next big thing—AI built right into the drone, allowing it to make autonomous targeting decisions if its communication links are cut.
But sometimes you don’t need high-tech software, agility, or stealth. Sometimes, you just need a really, really big drone that can carry an entire e-bike and deliver it to a soldier stranded several kilometers away.