A quick blast from the past and a reminder that we have recorded a few pods on artillery and drones. These are available on most major platforms or via links below.
Since the outset of the war in Ukraine, military innovation has been dominated by the rapid evolution of drones, especially First Person View (FPV) systems. A recent study by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) estimated that drones are now responsible for 60–70% of Russian equipment losses. A figure that underlines their decisive role on the battlefield. The article further states that Turkey’s Operation Spring Shield in 2020 had already demonstrated the potential of combining drones with artillery, when coordinated strikes devastated Syrian armoured formations. For NATO and Western forces, these lessons are impossible to ignore.
This shift has revealed just how vulnerable conventional armoured vehicles have become. Once the backbone of manoeuvre warfare, they are now highly exposed on the modern battlefield. Some analysts even suggest that drones could render traditional artillery obsolete. Yet the war in Ukraine tells a different story: artillery remains indispensable, evolving alongside new technologies and retaining its central role in contemporary conflict.
Use of Drones In The British Army
On this podcast we discussed drones in the British Army from the Cold War to the present including:
- The development of Artillery air OPs in WW2 .
- The pioneering work using drones post war by the Royal Artillery.
- Hermes 450 and Watchkeeper drones.
- The Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance process known as ISTAR which is the activity of “equipping forces’ with information and intelligence to assist in combat roles and other operational duties. This often derives from linked information networks which improve upon situational awareness”.
- Where drones currently operate in this space and more importantly where they perhaps could operate.
- Should the Royal Artillery operate Watchkeeper.
- Drones in Ukraine.
- The future of drones in the British army.
Unmatched Destructive Power
One of the most compelling arguments for artillery’s enduring relevance is its sheer destructive capability, which often far exceeds that of smaller drones.
- An FPV drone typically carries a few kg of explosives. In stark contrast, a 152-/155-calibre artillery projectile contains around 8 kg of explosives along with 40 kg of projectile.
- This significant difference in payload allows artillery to overcome hardened targets that drones cannot.
- Unlike drones artillery is rarely affected by weather.
- Artillery’s versatility extends to various ammunition types crucial for different combat scenarios. Cluster munitions for example are highly effective against infantry assaults, smoke rounds for blinding the enemy or screening friendly forces.
- It should be noted that the United Kingdom is a signatory to the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM), a treaty that bans the use, production, stockpiling, and transfer of such weapon
- Another formidable tool is the capability to remote mine areas using a projectile, which disperses munitions over an area.
A Technological Evolution
Artillery has undergone a significant transformation, particularly since the full-scale war began.
- The widespread adoption of Starlink and reconnaissance drones has become standard practice. This integration has dramatically improved accuracy, ammunition economy, and reaction speed.
- The sensor to shooter link time has decreased. What once required manual adjustment with binoculars now takes minutes from target spotting to firing, with reconnaissance drones directing fire.
- Instead of coordinated fires from batteries, Ukrainian artillery often operates with one gun from hidden positions.
- This shift is due to the pinpoint targeting capabilities of reconnaissance drones and the constant threat from enemy FPVs and Lancet drones, which hunt for clusters of forces.
- Modern artillery headquarters are sophisticated, utilizing programs like Kropyva (Nettle).
- This is a Ukrainian-developed software system used for battlefield command and control, particularly by artillery units, and is known for its role in enhancing situational awareness and facilitating efficient target engagement.
- It acts as a tactical link management system based on GIS, enabling users to create intelligent maps, plan operations, and exchange information with other users. This program incorporates range tables, different ammunition natures and can even calculate optimal video camera heights for observation.
Future for British Artillery
On this podcast we discuss our thoughts on the future of artillery in the British Army including:
- The current state of the Army.
- How the army should train and the use of simulation.
- Future soldier concept and the shift from close to deep battle.
- Moving close support artillery to the infantry to be owned by the infantry and how that would look.
- The Royal Artillery to be a missile only deep effects organisation
- Use of drones on the battle space.
Strategic Adaptions And Resilience
Ukrainian forces have strategically adapted their artillery operations to counter modern threats and enhance survival. While the advent of drones has certainly reshaped modern warfare, they complement, rather than replace, the critical role of artillery. Artillery’s overwhelming destructive power, its continuous technological evolution, and adaptive tactical deployment will probably ensure its continued dominance and importance on the modern battlefield.
Cover photo credit – courtesy of NY Times.
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