Ukraine's Drone Defense Strategy Offers NATO New Tactical Insights

Following the demonstrated effectiveness of drones in the Ukraine conflict, Western countries are intensifying investments in drone warfare and its tactics. However, protecting these assets remains a new challenge that the West must learn from Kyiv's experience.

According to the American website Business Insider, drone units should maintain continuous mobility and operate with command centers buried underground.

Taras Berezovets, head of military cooperation at Ukraine's Regional Defense Forces, part of the Armed Forces, emphasized that a key lesson for the West from Ukraine's experience is the critical importance of drone units and their command centers as prime targets, requiring substantial efforts for their protection.

He stated, "This war, especially the drone warfare aspect, resembles a cat-and-mouse game. The Russians are constantly searching for our drone units' locations," which is why Ukraine consistently relocates these units, particularly when there is a risk of exposure.

Speaking at the Drone Summit in Latvia, Berezovets highlighted that Western allies should also contemplate constructing drone command centers "deep underground."

He added, "This is very expensive, but based on Russian and Ukrainian experience, you can be sure that hiding these command and training centers underground is always the best option." He further noted, "These centers should be placed at the deepest possible point."

Berezovets pointed out that applying this lesson might be more challenging for smaller NATO countries that lack the spatial capacity Ukraine has to move drone units and command centers.

Although NATO gains strategic depth by distributing units among its members, relocating command centers, training sites, and drone units across borders during wartime introduces specific complications, including logistics, communications, permissions, and coordination.

In Ukraine, drone command centers remain concealed and operate underground whenever feasible. Some centers have been established as mobile systems mounted on vehicles, with control equipment installed inside trucks and armored vehicles.

Drone operators regularly conduct operations from hidden or subterranean locations to ensure their safety. These command centers, ranging from small to large scales, are highly significant targets due to their role in coordinating high-impact weaponry.

Ukraine reports that drones account for 90% of Russian losses along the front lines and has publicly disclosed strikes targeting Russian drone command centers.

Targets extend beyond command centers to include Ukrainian drone operators themselves.

Ukrainian soldiers and officials describe drone operators as primary targets for Russia, with threats reaching the highest levels of the command hierarchy. Last year, the commander of Ukraine's unmanned systems forces revealed that Russia attempted to strike multiple Ukrainian drone unit leaders simultaneously.

These warnings align with growing recognition that Western militaries will require increased flexibility, concealment, and dispersion in future battles.

In statements to Business Insider, John Stringer, NATO's deputy supreme commander in Europe, noted that Ukraine demonstrates the obsolescence of the large central air operations centers that Western forces relied on during the 35 years following the Cold War.

However, Stringer acknowledged that force dispersion introduces complexities, stating, "The more dispersed they are, the more difficult and challenging it becomes."

Several Ukrainian defense companies have urged their Western counterparts to consider avoiding centralized production at a single large site and instead distribute operations across multiple locations. These companies argue that while this approach complicates operations, it enhances security.

Ashi, CEO of the Ukrainian defense firm Arc Robotics, told Business Insider that the company ensures its manufacturing departments remain independent and flexible in site selection.

Using a pseudonym for security reasons, Ashi explained, "We strive to avoid building massive factories. I believe this is the best approach. Once a huge factory is built, everything becomes concentrated there."

He added that although the company is exploring manufacturing possibilities in other parts of Europe, it remains committed to this principle and believes the broader European defense industry should adopt this lesson.

Karmo Saar, head of sales at Estonian drone manufacturer Kratorx, whose drones are used by Ukraine, stated that some of Ukraine's largest drone manufacturers operate more than 15 production sites. While running all operations in one large facility would be easier and less costly, he believes the rest of Europe should learn from Ukraine's model.