Recently, groups of three Ukrainian drones approached Russian positions under the cover of night, autonomously determining the timing of their strikes. Swarm drone technology has opened a new phase of drone warfare, allowing the simultaneous use of dozens or even thousands of drones. According to senior Ukrainian officers and representatives of a software company, Ukraine has already been deploying swarm drone attacks on the battlefield for much of the past year.
Analysts emphasize that these operations—until now not fully disclosed—serve as examples of Ukraine’s routine use of swarm drone technology in the war, underscoring the country’s leadership in this field. At the same time, the integration of artificial intelligence on the battlefield raises ethical concerns, as machines could potentially make life-or-death decisions about both soldiers and civilians.
(Ukrainian swarm drones equipped with artificial intelligence technology)
According to the software company’s representative, testing with swarms of 100 drones will soon be conducted. About a year ago, the Ukrainian military first used swarm technology for mine-laying. Since then, it has been applied to strike Russian military equipment and infrastructure. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer, speaking anonymously, said his unit has employed the system more than a hundred times, and other units have also received drones equipped with the software.
Ukraine typically deploys swarms in groups of three drones, though reports suggest formations of up to eight have been used. Company spokesperson Kupriyenko stated that the software has successfully passed formation tests with as many as 25 drones. According to senior Ukrainian officers, standard operations involve one reconnaissance drone and two attack drones armed with small bombs striking Russian positions. Operators designate the search area, and once targets are identified, they issue the attack command. The reconnaissance drone plots the route for the attack drones, while the attack drones autonomously decide when and in what sequence to release their payloads.