Ukraine's drone operators can now fight from hundreds of miles away. Support troops still have to risk getting near the front.
Ukrainian drone operators are increasingly using satellite technology to pilot aircraft from remote, safer locations hundreds of miles away. However, ground support teams remain essential for the physical transport and preparation of drones near the front lines.
Why it matters
This shift in military tactics highlights the evolving nature of remote warfare and the persistent necessity of human presence in high-risk zones.
New technology is allowing Ukraine's drone operators to pilot drones hundreds or thousands of miles from the front lines, but for now at least, operations still need soldiers to set up the drones closer to the danger. Maks Muravsky/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images Russia hunts drone pilots, so Ukraine is pulling them farther from the fighting with new technology. Ukraine can now fly some drones from greater relative safety, hundreds of miles from their launch sites. But support troops still need to get close to danger to transport, prepare, and launch the drones. New technologies are allowing Ukrainian drone operators — who are high-priority targets — to control drones from relatively safer locations hundreds or even thousands of miles away. But human soldiers often still have to go to risky locations to transport, prepare, and launch these aircraft.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in