Why Britain must adapt to the new age of warfare or risk falling behind

Warfare is changing fast, and Britain needs to keep up or risk being left behind. Imagine young soldiers in a hidden bunker, controlling drones on computer screens. They are searching for enemies. Suddenly, a soldier on the screen sees he has been spotted in a forest. It is too late. His screen goes black as the drone explodes. This is happening every day in eastern Ukraine.

New drone technology, especially fibre optic drones that send video directly to the operator, has completely changed how wars are fought. Expensive equipment like tanks and aircraft can be destroyed very quickly. The UK government announced a new defence plan that includes spending an extra £5bn on drones for land, sea, and air. However, some military experts wonder if this is enough.

This article talks to Luke Harding, a senior international correspondent who has reported from Ukraine. He discusses the new threat of drone technology and whether the UK is truly aware of the danger. The technology, with its thin fibre optic cables looking like spider webs, allows drones to fly over enemy territory and remain almost invisible and very hard to hack.

This technology has been very important in stopping Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Even though Ukraine has fewer soldiers, some analysts believe they are now gaining the advantage. Daily drone attacks by Ukraine on Russian infrastructure are causing problems and fuel shortages. There are reports that Russia's leader, Vladimir Putin, is worried about being attacked by drones, especially after Ukraine's 'operation Spiderweb' attack last year, which destroyed many Russian aircraft.

Soldiers on the frontlines in eastern Ukraine live in fear of drones. When attacks happen, videos of the target's last moments are often shared online to cause humiliation. Experts like Luke Harding say that British soldiers will likely face the same threats in the future. He describes these drones as terrifying and says it's like a mix of the movie Blade Runner and the First World War, where you cannot escape them.

The threat of drones is already here, and the UK must respond. In 2018, a famous incident at Gatwick airport in the UK caused many flight cancellations when a drone was seen near the runway. Defence officials are worried about future drone attacks from Russia, especially when the war in Ukraine ends. Russia has been sending drones into European airspace, causing concern for Nato countries. Russia seems to see the UK as an enemy, and this fear is real.

This new technology also presents a danger from criminal gangs and terrorist groups. Harding compares it to the 1990s when the IRA attacked Downing Street with a mortar. Now, he says, sending 20 drones and having just two succeed would be a significant attack. The potential consequences are frightening.

Drone technology is also changing the type of soldier fighting wars. People often called 'gamers', who are skilled at video games, are now important drone operators. Their gaming skills translate directly to controlling drones in combat. Harding suggests that the UK could create a new drone division by hiring skilled gamers, perhaps at a new Royal Naval Drone College.

The UK's defence budget faces difficult choices. After the current prime minister, Keir Starmer, leaves, his successor will have to decide how to fund defence spending, including drones. With a significant budget hole, new leaders might cut spending rather than raise taxes. While £5bn is planned for drone capabilities, old-fashioned, expensive military equipment like tanks might become less important.

At the upcoming Nato summit, many leaders may want to impress the US president, Donald Trump, with investments in large military equipment. However, Harding argues that war has fundamentally changed. He states that old military equipment is becoming obsolete, like 'dodos'. A cheap drone can easily destroy expensive tanks and other vehicles. This has serious consequences for how countries prepare for and fight wars in the 21st century.