Page 13 - ADEX 2024 - DAY 1

Drones and the

Future of Battlefield

As the rules of warfare evolve with the rise integrated solutions. “We are divided into border protection and national security mis-
of affordable and accessible UAS platforms, four business units (UAV, UGS, Autonomy sions. “It’s a completely different mission,
Elbit Systems is developing autonomous and Sensors), each addressing a different but it relies on the same basic principles
technologies to ensure superiority on the aspect of autonomy or HMT – from unique and capabilities” Guy explains. “The ability
battlefield IPs for advanced sensors, DMS, autono- to observe from various (vertical) angles
mous pilot capabilities and avionic platform over a large area is a critical advantage in
From Combat Support designs to the integration of all those ca- these missions as well.”
to Autonomous Logistics pabilities to swarms of platforms carrying
“The applications of drones are incredibly all relevant payloads to autonomously carry “We’ve Passed the Point
out the missions.”
diverse,” explains Guy, a former senior Israeli of No Return”
defence official who joined Elbit Systems to Supporting Maneuvering Forces The battlefield’s transformation was starkly
lead the new line of business focused on ro- evident during the intensified fighting in
botic and autonomous technologies. “We’re Guy frequently uses the term “low-altitude Ukraine and the extensive use of drones.
talking about everything from small UAVs airspace” to describe a critical turning point “Take the FPV drone, which to our under-
(stand alone or swarms) with ‘end game’ in current and future warfare scenarios. standing became very popular in the Russia-
capabilities to robotic platforms (ground “This is a new domain with many variables Ukraine war, as an example,” says Guy. “It’s a
or air) delivering equipment to soldiers that need to be addressed because of the relatively cheap and easy-to-produce missile
in the field. The range of solutions varies many new operators in the new battlefield replacement that can function as a loitering
from the concept of operation (con-op) who are filling it from drones and fixed wing munition or an anti-tank missile when fitted
of maneuvering forces up to Homeland UASs to loitering munitions and missiles with the right warhead.”
Security (HLS) and terrain dominance and moving close to the ground.”
protection.” The widespread presence of these drones
What may seem like a significant challenge on the battlefield is due to their easy pro-
Guy plans to leverage the group’s extensive also presents opportunities. duction and relatively low cost. “Countries
experience across the main business units on the eastern axis are producing hundreds
to create synergy between them and deliver “Until unmanned aerial systems arrived on of thousands of these drones. I don’t believe
the battlefield, combat observations made this situation is reversible; we’ve passed the
by the maneuvering forces were horizontal, point of no return,” he asserts.
looking at the targets on the ground from a
flat angle. The use of drones and low-alti- According to Guy, there is no stopping the
tude airspace provides a much deeper and use of drones, which will remain on future
three-dimensional understanding of threats battlefields alongside other autonomous
in the area,” Guy explains. This enhanced capabilities. The only way to cope with
perspective makes it easier for combat forc- these changes is to create superiority in
es to acquire and verify targets and protect the low altitude airspace domain, through
themselves from other threats, especially in command, control, cyber, and electronic
urban areas or mountainous terrain. warfare, aiming to ensure that Elbit Systems’
clients have the upper hand in dealing with
These technologies can also be adapted for the robotic threat.

AZERBAIJAN INTERNATIONAL DEFENCE EXHIBITION 2024 SEPTEMBER-24-2024 13