In Ukraine, for the first time, a unique practice of using drone swarms with artificial intelligence in various combat operations has emerged. Ukrainian forces systematically deploy drones that can independently coordinate their actions and adjust attack timings. According to The Wall Street Journal on September 2, 2025, this new approach represents a significant step in military technology. Experts believe that using multiple drones simultaneously could become a “new stage of warfare.”
Hundreds of devices are capable of targeting the same objective, creating a significant burden on the enemy.
The technology used by the Ukrainian military was developed by the company Swarmer. Its software allows drones to choose the sequence of attacks themselves and adjust tactics if one of them fails.
The company’s director, Sergey Kuprienko, noted that “once the target is set, the drones take care of everything else, working in tandem and adapting to circumstances.”
According to a Ukrainian officer, the system has already been used more than a hundred times. Typically, three devices are deployed: one for reconnaissance and two for attack. The reconnaissance drone charts the route, and then the others choose the method of dropping the payload. This reduces the number of people needed to complete the task from nine to three. Given the numerical superiority of the enemy, the number of drone operators becomes crucial. Simplifying coordination and interaction of drones reduces the risks of electronic countermeasures from Russia.
Experts emphasize that the current use of drones does not meet the strict definition of a “full swarm,” but even limited autonomy is already considered a significant achievement. British researcher Bob Tollast highlighted that “even a small level of autonomous interaction looks quite impressive.” Swarmer plans to test a swarm of more than a hundred drones. Receiving support from American investors allows them to expand the capabilities of their technologies.
Although Ukraine is not the only country working with such drones, it has managed to implement this development in combat conditions. The USA, China, France, Russia, South Korea, and Israel also have developments in this area, but only Ukraine was the first to apply them on the battlefield.
Swarmer emphasizes that the final decision to start an attack is made by the operator. Expert Zak Kallenborn stated that: “For many years, it was claimed that drone swarms could change warfare. Now it has ceased to be just a prediction and has become a very real reality.” Thus, Ukraine has become the forefront of implementing new military technologies, changing approaches to conducting combat operations in the 21st century.
Read on – NANews Israel News