The future of warfare is happening in Ukraine, it is being funded in part by gas station reward points and America is getting virtually none of the benefit.
You are correct that we need to catch up on drone warfare in a hurry. This is one of the ways Ukraine will be of great value as an ally to the United States and NATO - whatever form that arrangement will take.
In particular highlighting the cost advantage of drone vs artillery. Also your flagging the gating issues for US and EU innovation funding to get to Ukraine based drone innovators. Still - putting on my Biz Dev / MBA hat for a second - it would seem there are already classic corporate development tactics around such, including M&A, licensing, JVs etc. We have the will. Let's find the way.
Also, I'd be extremely surprised/disappointed if US DOD of acquisition and evaluation of allied & enemy drone tech used in the Ukrainian battle space is as weak as you suggest (limited to user groups on Signal). Of course, it's not really in our interest to advertise our avenues for such, is it.
Great piece Steve but don’t forget that both Turkey and Israel manufacture military drones. Turkey regularly uses them to assassinate civilians and political leaders in NE Syria and Northern Iraq. Israel supplied Azerbaijan to help it prevail over Armenia in Nagorno Karabakh. Drones played a huge role in Turkey’s seizure of Afrin in 2018 and then the Ras Al Ain to Tel Abyad strip in NE Syria in 2019. The US was watching this unfold from close up, but we apparently were not paying enough attention.
You are correct that we need to catch up on drone warfare in a hurry. This is one of the ways Ukraine will be of great value as an ally to the United States and NATO - whatever form that arrangement will take.
Nice write up, Steve.
In particular highlighting the cost advantage of drone vs artillery. Also your flagging the gating issues for US and EU innovation funding to get to Ukraine based drone innovators. Still - putting on my Biz Dev / MBA hat for a second - it would seem there are already classic corporate development tactics around such, including M&A, licensing, JVs etc. We have the will. Let's find the way.
Also, I'd be extremely surprised/disappointed if US DOD of acquisition and evaluation of allied & enemy drone tech used in the Ukrainian battle space is as weak as you suggest (limited to user groups on Signal). Of course, it's not really in our interest to advertise our avenues for such, is it.
Heroiam slava - and I include you in that group.
JS.
Great piece Steve but don’t forget that both Turkey and Israel manufacture military drones. Turkey regularly uses them to assassinate civilians and political leaders in NE Syria and Northern Iraq. Israel supplied Azerbaijan to help it prevail over Armenia in Nagorno Karabakh. Drones played a huge role in Turkey’s seizure of Afrin in 2018 and then the Ras Al Ain to Tel Abyad strip in NE Syria in 2019. The US was watching this unfold from close up, but we apparently were not paying enough attention.
Thank you for your work. This Substack should be read by everyone who cares about Ukraine. I will share!