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Ukraine's Drone Ecosystem and the Defence of Europe: Lessons Lost Can't be Learned

by Jon-Wyatt Matlack, Sebastian Schwartz and Oliver Gill

SchwartzSebastian

Author

Sebastian Schwartz

Author

Oliver G

Author

Oliver Gill

Author

Matlack

Jon-Wyatt Matlack

Author

"'At every level of command', the organisation of UAV forces intends to serve one goal: 'to preserve the lives of our soldiers'"

"Drone schools therefore serve as a vital pipeline between not just the military and society in the broadest sense, but also between units and individuals."

Ukraine’s unique capabilities in drone warfare have significantly contributed to halting the largest land invasion in Europe since 1945. Given the looming threat of escalation on its eastern flank, NATO allies have a problem: falling short in understanding Ukraine’s drone ecosystem risks abdicating the strategic momentum in drone warfare to Russia and its allies. Through primary interviews with military, government, and civilian actors, we argue that the core characteristics of this ecosystem represent lessons to be learned themselves. Unfolding across the categories of speed, scale, and urgency, we recommend to NATO allies three policy proposals stemming from our analysis: the establishment of an institutionalised joint venture system for defence technologies, a systematic civil-military liaison structure, and the commitment to binding defence contracts in exchange for soliciting Ukrainian drone expertise. We conclude by pointing towards the sober truth: NATO countries cannot learn the lessons from Ukraine’s drone ecosystem if they concede to Russia’s strategic goals.

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