Sadly you are a little behind the curve but understandably so. Those of us who have lived the drone industry for many years understand the limitations of this technology but the need for drone technology (across all domains - land, maritime, air & space) to complement traditional defence technology and tactics is unquestionable. I’m not sure how much time you have spent in UKR but it is a game changer…but not in isolation. Indeed many Russian vessels were sunk not by cruise missiles but by USVs which now play a key role in Black Sea operations.
I do take your point about the risks associated with moving from large primes to SMEs but, apart from the extortionate cost, they are simply too slow. So, you may be pleased to hear that there are plans underway to create a significant sovereign capability in the UK without the big Primes which will reduce the need to buy tech from US companies and enable greater integration while still using SME tech. Vague I know but I can’t say any more at this stage…
I would suggest keeping a weather eye on what emerges in coming months…it may alter your perception 👍
This is so true; the new and the shiny distract from the real issues.
There is still a large elephant in the room that no one likes to discuss, that being the huge increase in the size of the army needed to be a viable option in any forthcoming war. This doesn’t have to be a standing army but rather a large army of reservists, created by a combination of incentives and if necessary compulsions. This is exactly what the majority of mainland European states are doing or have already achieved.
You are undoubtedly correct about the overriding requirement to massively increase the size of the army - if necessary ‘by compulsion’. Therein lies the problem. Despite the overwhelming evidence NATO will have to fight Russia - soon - there is, at the moment, absolutely no political will to even begin to contemplate conscription or anything like it. Our society, particularly the young, see absolutely no prospect of having to actually fight in a ‘shooting war’ so used have we become to decades of peace.
In the end what works well is only discovered under duress in real life, or am I being naive. Until the ‘vehicle’ is designed, delivered, ‘manned’ and tested in combat we muddle on fighting the last war with the best available kit.
Mark,
Sadly you are a little behind the curve but understandably so. Those of us who have lived the drone industry for many years understand the limitations of this technology but the need for drone technology (across all domains - land, maritime, air & space) to complement traditional defence technology and tactics is unquestionable. I’m not sure how much time you have spent in UKR but it is a game changer…but not in isolation. Indeed many Russian vessels were sunk not by cruise missiles but by USVs which now play a key role in Black Sea operations.
I do take your point about the risks associated with moving from large primes to SMEs but, apart from the extortionate cost, they are simply too slow. So, you may be pleased to hear that there are plans underway to create a significant sovereign capability in the UK without the big Primes which will reduce the need to buy tech from US companies and enable greater integration while still using SME tech. Vague I know but I can’t say any more at this stage…
I would suggest keeping a weather eye on what emerges in coming months…it may alter your perception 👍
This is so true; the new and the shiny distract from the real issues.
There is still a large elephant in the room that no one likes to discuss, that being the huge increase in the size of the army needed to be a viable option in any forthcoming war. This doesn’t have to be a standing army but rather a large army of reservists, created by a combination of incentives and if necessary compulsions. This is exactly what the majority of mainland European states are doing or have already achieved.
Alex,
You are undoubtedly correct about the overriding requirement to massively increase the size of the army - if necessary ‘by compulsion’. Therein lies the problem. Despite the overwhelming evidence NATO will have to fight Russia - soon - there is, at the moment, absolutely no political will to even begin to contemplate conscription or anything like it. Our society, particularly the young, see absolutely no prospect of having to actually fight in a ‘shooting war’ so used have we become to decades of peace.
Thanks for this Mark, you’ve crystallised an idea I’ve been circling but couldn’t quite figure out.
In the end what works well is only discovered under duress in real life, or am I being naive. Until the ‘vehicle’ is designed, delivered, ‘manned’ and tested in combat we muddle on fighting the last war with the best available kit.
MU - I want it all and I want it now! ( and somebody else decides what gets cut) After all those nuclear subs have detered Russia and cost peanuts.
Wasn’t the Moskva nit by one of the Ukrainians self developed Neptune missiles?
Yes, as reported by Ukr Military