Drone War Has Massively Expanded the No-Mans Land in War

Quite obviously, the whole battle field is becoming untenable.  And I am not joking.  imagine a swarm of hostile bumblebees out to kill you.  Scale wise, we are not far away.

combatants will operate far far away and hunt out intruders and other drones.    The rifleman cannot actually compete.  even now we are often watching men running to die.  how do you defend against an incoming swarm able to see and even heat sense at night?  WWI this is not.

This also makes artillary obsolete.  No one can move fast enough. and we have already seen tanks been picked off using some obscure vulnerability.

Also understand that jet fighters are also heading for the dustbin.  A drone fighter able to twist and turn at mach 20 is unstoppable by any human pilot.

It has taken this war to clear everyone's head about drones.  now imagine Canada training up perhaps 20,000,000 citizen drone operators for defense operations anywhere in the world.  It does not make WAR obsolete, but changes it completely out of the warriors physical grip.

Drone War Has Massively Expanded the No-Mans Land in War

February 16, 2025 by Brian Wang

https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2025/02/201076.html#more-201076

The Ukraine-Russia war is perfecting the killing of anyone and anything with 6 miles or so of the front. This has been an expansion of no man’s land by 100 times since world war 1. US military planners are talking about massive layers of combat. They are basically saying that the first layers tens of miles deep needs to be expendable and they want it to become all drones and robots.

Hyper Deadly Drone War is More Deadly Than Scenes from the Terminator Movie

Historical Expansion of Deadly Zones

There has been a historical trend of expanding deadly zones in warfare:

World War I: “No man’s land” between trenches was indeed roughly 100 yards wide. Sources confirm this was a zone of extreme danger and death.

World War II: The deadly area expanded significantly to approximately 500 yards. This increase was due to more mobile warfare, the use of tanks, and more effective artillery.

It has gotten even larger in the Ukraine-Russia war with ten thousand or so drones per day used. Deaths and wounded on both sides is about 1000 per day.

Militaries are in the process of transition to highly deadly depths of 6-9 miles (10-15 kilometers).

US Military Planners are looking at layers of combat hundreds of miles deep and the front layer or two need to be unmanned in most situations because they will be too deadly.

Drone Warfare in Ukraine: A New Paradigm

Extended Kill Zone (“Drone Line”): The concept of a 10-15 kilometer drone line is actively being pursued by Ukraine. This initiative aims to create a deep surveillance and strike zone where enemy movement is constantly monitored and vulnerable to attack.

Constant Aerial Support: Drones provide continuous real-time intelligence, reconnaissance, and strike capabilities directly to infantry units. This persistent aerial presence significantly enhances infantry’s operational effectiveness and lethality.

Integrated Strike Systems: Ukraine is actively working to integrate drones with infantry and artillery into cohesive strike systems. This integration aims to create a more dynamic and responsive battlefield, where targets can be quickly identified and engaged through coordinated efforts.

Defensive Dominance: The widespread use of drones has indeed strengthened defensive positions. Frontlines have become exceptionally lethal, making large-scale troop movements and massing of forces extremely risky due to the high probability of detection and drone strikes.

Distributed Kill Chain: The deployment of drone stacks, where multiple drones perform different functions (surveillance, targeting, attack), creates a resilient and adaptable kill chain. This distributed approach makes it harder to disrupt the overall system and ensures continued operational capability.

Military experts offer several key analyses of this expanded deadly zone:

Force Multiplier: Drones are undeniably acting as a force multiplier for Ukraine. They enhance combat effectiveness, provide critical capabilities in intelligence and strike, and help compensate for shortages in conventional resources like artillery ammunition and manpower.

Asymmetric Warfare: Ukraine’s adoption of drone warfare is a clear example of asymmetric military strategy. By focusing on technological advantages and innovative tactics, Ukraine seeks to offset Russia’s numerical and material superiority.

Network-Centric Warfare: The effective integration of drones necessitates advanced command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems. Network-centric warfare, where information superiority and rapid decision-making are paramount, is crucial for maximizing the impact of drone technology.

Adaptation and Innovation: The drone war in Ukraine is a dynamic and rapidly evolving environment. Both sides are constantly adapting their tactics and technologies, leading to continuous innovation in drone warfare strategies as they seek to counter each other’s advancements.

Future Expansion of Deadly Zones

Advancements in drone technology will expand the deadly zone:

Increased Range and Persistence: Future drones with longer ranges and greater endurance will extend the lethal reach across the battlefield. This could lead to a scenario where vast areas are under constant threat of drone attack, making movement and maneuver extremely hazardous.

Swarm Intelligence: AI-powered drone swarms represent a significant leap in capability. These swarms could operate autonomously, dynamically adapting to battlefield conditions and overwhelming defenses through coordinated actions.

Enhanced Target Acquisition: AI-driven improvements in target recognition, tracking, and engagement will make it even more challenging for forces to evade detection and attack. This enhanced precision and speed will further increase the lethality of the battlefield.

Expanded Electronic Warfare: As drone technology advances, so will electronic warfare (EW) capabilities designed to counter them. This could lead to a continuous cycle of advancement and counter-advancement in EW and drone technology, potentially creating vast contested airspace where control is constantly challenged.