The future of armed forces isn't a total replacement of traditional assets with drones. Instead, the dominant model will be a "hybrid force" that integrates expensive, crewed platforms like stealth jets and aircraft carriers with complementary unmanned systems like "loyal wingmen" drones and autonomous ships for scouting and high-risk missions.

The intense signal jamming by Russia in Ukraine makes remotely piloted drones ineffective in the final phase of an attack. This has created a tactical necessity for drones that can autonomously complete their mission after losing their data link, accelerating the development of practical, on-board AI for target engagement.

Anduril's autonomous Fury fighter jet flies alongside manned aircraft as a force multiplier. It extends the pilot's sensor and weapons range while taking on high-risk maneuvers. This allows for strategies that involve sacrificing autonomous assets to gain an advantage, without the ethical problem of losing human lives.

Unlike landmines that remain a threat for decades, autonomous drones can be programmed with sophisticated rules, updated remotely, or set to self-destruct after a conflict. This programmability offers area denial without the long-term humanitarian cost of unexploded ordnance.

Defense tech firm Smack Technologies clarifies the objective is not to remove humans entirely. Instead, AI should handle low-value tasks to free up personnel for critical, high-value decisions. This framework, 'intelligent autonomy,' orchestrates manned and unmanned systems while keeping humans in the loop.

Recent wargames show that pairing manned and unmanned systems is often counterproductive. The need to protect the supposedly "expendable" robot compromises the mission, as it can't be put at risk if it endangers the human crew nearby, negating its core value.

The focus on drone technology overshadows its real impact: a fundamental shift in military doctrine. True innovation isn't adding drones to existing units, but replacing entire battalions (e.g., armor) with new drone-centric formations, completely altering force structures and tactics.

Drones like the Hornet (sub-$5k) use AI to automatically identify targets. This allows Ukraine to send swarms of cheap drones for operational-level strikes, achieving results that previously required expensive missiles. This fundamentally changes the cost-benefit analysis of deep attacks and attritional warfare.

The war in Ukraine has evolved from a traditional territorial conflict into a "robot war," with drones dominating the front lines. This real-world battlefield is accelerating innovation at an "unbelievable" pace, driving new solutions for secure communications and autonomous targeting, providing critical lessons for US drone strategy.