Drones and the Future of War: Lessons from Ukraine

By: Marshall, Scott

In Ukraine, cheap drones now inflict most of the casualties on the battlefield. How did it happen so fast, and what does it mean for every army in the world?

Second edition, revised, expanded and updated to 2026.

In 2022, Ukrainian soldiers dropped grenades from hobby quadcopters. By 2026, both sides were producing millions of drones a year, guiding them by fibre-optic cable, hunting enemy drones with interceptors and striking refineries and air bases deep inside Russia. Ukraine has become the world's laboratory for drone warfare, and the lessons are already spreading.

Inside you will find
How a military drone works, in plain language, and the main families of drones
FPV strike drones, reconnaissance and the "transparent battlefield"
Electronic warfare, jamming, fibre-optic drones and counter-drone defence
Artificial intelligence, autonomy and swarms: what is real and what is hype
Long-range strikes, Operation Spiderweb and the drone war beyond Ukraine, including Iran
Unmanned ground and naval vehicles, and what NATO armies must change

A clear, sourced guide for readers interested in defence, technology and the future of conflict. No engineering background needed.

Book 2 of the Modern Warfare Explained series. Pairs with Lessons from Ukraine (Book 3), on how the war is fought arm by arm.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0GCMCM2JB
• ISBN13: 9798241283115
• Release Date: December 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 108 Pages
• Weight: 0.34 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 6.0" x 9.0"