True until the day that dispersed drones behind the frontlines can stop an armored cavalry breakthrough. (I don't know if that day will ever come, but it may.)
I was curious how densely you needed drones — 1 per 5 or 6 sq km. A level that a force might accidentally have that many.
Assumptions:
- 5 drones per vehicle to achieve a neutralization
- 50 vehicles breaking through the line
- total of 250 drones to neutralize
- 30km range (60km/h with 20 minute flight time)
- which is ~1400 sq km (half circle of radius 30km)
- for 1 drone per 5 or 6 sq km required density
If you just hand out drones to squads and transport teams, there’s a non-trivial chance you’ll have that many in the relevant area. My understanding is that we’re only missing the tactics or automated swarming.
Also, I’m assuming wireless drones; only being able to use fiber drones would significantly change the math (with their more limited range).
It will be combined wars for sure, planes, tanks, infantry and drones at the same time. With air superiority the enemy has little chance to move heavy equipment around such as artillery. For every video we see about drones in Ukraine I bet you artillery kills a much larger percentage of the combatants.
