Tactical Network-Centric Warfare in Practice: FPV Drones and the Architecture of a New RMA

[1] Gonta, S. N. ‘Civilian’ quadcopters (drones) and their role in modern military conflicts. Национальная безопасность/nota bene, Jun. 2023; no. 6. 78–90. doi: 10.7256/2454-0668.2023.6.69317. Search in Google Scholar

[2] Sanabria, A. C., Catral, A. El Aumento en un 400 por Ciento del Uso de Drones en losÚltimos 2 Años de Guerra en Ucrania, Wars Of Drones. 2024. doi: 10.13140/RG.2.2.27680.60160. Search in Google Scholar

[3] Davis, N. C., Toffler, A., Toffler, H. An Information-Based Revolution in Military Affairs. In Athena‟s Camp, 1st ed., J. Arquilla and D. Ronfeldt, Eds. In Preparing for Conflict in the Information Age. RAND Corporation. 1997: 79-98. Accessed: May 17, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7249/mr880osd-rc.9. Search in Google Scholar

[4] Fitzsimonds, J. R., Van Tol, J. M. Revolutions in Military Affairs, Defense Technical Information Center. Accessed: May, 17, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/ADA360252. Search in Google Scholar

[5] Krepinevich, A. F. Cavalry to Computer: The Pattern of Military Revolutions. The National Interest. 1994; no. 37. 30-42. Search in Google Scholar

[6] Horowitz, M. C., Pindyck, S. What is a military innovation and why it matters. Journal of Strategic Studies. Jan. 2023; vol. 46, no. 1. 85-114. doi: 10.1080/01402390.2022.2038572. Search in Google Scholar

[7] Grissom, A. The future of military innovation studies. Journal of Strategic Studies. Oct. 2006; vol. 29, no. 5. 905-934. doi: 10.1080/01402390600901067. Search in Google Scholar

[8] Turchin, P. et al. Rise of the war machines: Charting the evolution of military technologies from the Neolithic to the Industrial Revolution. PLoS ONE. Oct. 2021; vol. 16, no. 10. e0258161. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258161. Search in Google Scholar

[9] Horowitz, M., Rosen, S. Evolution or Revolution?. Journal of Strategic Studies. Jun. 2005; vol. 28, no. 3. 437-448. doi: 10.1080/01402390500137317. Search in Google Scholar

[10] Prezelj, I., Kopač, E., Žiberna, A., Kolak, A. Evolutionary reality of the revolution in military affairs: Results of a comparative study. Romanian Journal of Political Science. 2015; vol. 15, no. 2, 4-34. Search in Google Scholar

[11] Army research uncovers law-like progression of weapons technologies - from a crossbowman to a tank. www.army.mil. Accessed: May 17, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.army.mil/article/227359/army_research_uncovers_law_like_progression_of_weapons_technologies_from_a_crossbowman_to_a_tank. Search in Google Scholar

[12] Kott, A. Capabilities of FPV drones in Ukraine: Revolution or Continuation of Historical Quantitative Trend?. 2024. doi: 10.13140/RG.2.2.10272.60161. Search in Google Scholar

[13] Black, J. David vs. Goliath: Cost Asymmetry in Warfare. Mar, 2025. Accessed: May 17, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2025/03/david-vs-goliath-cost-asymmetry-in-warfare.html. Search in Google Scholar

[14] Pettyjohn, S. Evolution Not Revolution CNAS. Accessed: May 17, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.cnas.org/publications/reports/evolution-not-revolution. Search in Google Scholar

[15] Non-Lethal Measures of Effectiveness in Targeting - Joint Air Power Competence Centre. Accessed: May 17, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.japcc.org/articles/non-lethal-measures-of-effectiveness-in-targeting/. Search in Google Scholar

[16] Cuoco, C. A. The Revolution in Military Affairs: Theoretical Utility and Historical Evidence. Research Institute for European and American Studies (RIEAS). 2010. Accessed: Apr. 17, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://rieas.gr/publications/1194-carlo-alberto-cuoco-the-revolution-in-military-affairs-theoretical-utility-and-historical-evidence-rieas-research-paper-no-142-april-2010. Search in Google Scholar

[17] Neuneck, G. The revolution in military affairs: Its driving forces, elements, and complexity. Complexity. Sep, 2008; vol. 14, no. 1. 50-61. doi: 10.1002/cplx.20236. Search in Google Scholar

[18] Cohen, E. A. A Revolution in Warfare. Foreign Affairs. 1996; vol. 75, no. 2. 37. doi: 10.2307/20047487. Search in Google Scholar

[19] Kopeć, R. Revolution in Military Affairs as Technology-Driven Change in Military Operation. In: Encyclopedia of Information Science and Technology, Third Edition, IGI Global Scientific Publishing. 2015. 6534-6542. Accessed: May 17, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.igi-global.com/gateway/chapter/www.igi-global.com/gateway/chapter/113112. Search in Google Scholar

[20] Krepinevich, A. F. The Military-Technical Revolution: A Preliminary Assessment. Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. 2002. https://csbaonline.org/uploads/documents/2002.10.02-Military-Technical-Revolution.pdf. Search in Google Scholar

[21] Kretchik, W. E. Technology and the Revolution in Military Affairs. KHO Savunma Bilimleri Dergisi. 2022. [Online]. Available: https://repository.bilkent.edu.tr/server/api/core/bitstreams/d6b83695-1851-425b-afd5-268e5539fb32/content. Search in Google Scholar

[22] Fučík, J. Revolution in Military Affairs and Outer Space. In: International conference KNOWLEDGE-BASED ORGANIZATION. Sibiu: Sciendo. Jun. 2017, vol. 23, no. 1. 106-111. doi: 10.1515/kbo-2017-0016. Search in Google Scholar

[23] Liaropoulos, A. N. Revolutions in Warfare: Theoretical Paradigms and Historical Evidence - The Napoleonic and First World War Revolutions in Military Affairs. jmh. Apr. 2006; vol. 70, no. 2. 363-384. doi: 10.1353/jmh.2006.0106. Search in Google Scholar

[24] Raska, M. The sixth RMA wave: Disruption in Military Affairs?. Journal of Strategic Studies. Jun. 2021; vol. 44, no. 4. 456-479. doi: 10.1080/01402390.2020.1848818. Search in Google Scholar

[25] Csernatoni, R., Martins, B. O. Disruptive Technologies for Security and Defence: Temporality, Performativity and Imagination. Geopolitics. May 2024; vol. 29, no. 3. 849-872. doi: 10.1080/14650045.2023.2224235. Search in Google Scholar

[26] Kim, H., Cho, J. Spatiotemporal analysis of drone operations using armed conflict location and event data (ACLED): Focusing on the Russia-Ukraine war. Journal of Advances in Military Studies. Dec. 2023; vol. 6, no. 3. 55-81. doi: 10.37944/jams.v6i3.230. Search in Google Scholar

[27] Kunertova, D. Drones have boots: Learning from Russia‟s war in Ukraine. Contemporary Security Policy. Oct. 2023; vol. 44, no. 4. 576-591. doi: 10.1080/13523260.2023.2262792. Search in Google Scholar

[28] Kunertova, D. The war in Ukraine shows the game-changing effect of drones depends on the game. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Mar. 2023; vol. 79, no. 2. 95-102. doi: 10.1080/00963402.2023.2178180. Search in Google Scholar

[29] Kunertova, D. Learning from the Ukrainian Battlefield: Tomorrow‟s Drone Warfare, Today‟s Innovation Challenge. ETH Zurich. Aug. 2024. doi: 10.3929/ETHZ-B-000690448. Search in Google Scholar

[30] Molloy, O. Drones in Modern Warfare: Lessons from the war in Ukraine. Australian Army Research Centre. 2024. doi: 10.61451/267513. Search in Google Scholar

[31] Watling, J., Reynolds, N. Tactical developments during the third year of the Russo– Ukrainian war. Royal United Services Institute. Feb. 2025. Accessed: Mar. 16, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://static.rusi.org/tactical-developments-third-year-russo-ukrainian-war-february-2205.pdf. Search in Google Scholar

[32] Vysochanskyy, R. Redefining the battlefield: Drone warfare tactics in Ukraine. Project Ploughshares. Accessed: May 17, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://ploughshares.ca/redefining-the-battlefield-drone-warfare-tactics-in-ukraine/. Search in Google Scholar

[33] Zafra, M., Hunder, M., Rao, A., Kiyada, S. How drone combat in Ukraine is changing warfare. Reuters. Mar. 26, 2024. Accessed: May 17, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.reuters.com/graphics/UKRAINE-CRISIS/DRONES/dwpkeyjwkpm/. Search in Google Scholar

[34] British Armed Forces Integrate Drones into Modern Tactics Amid Lessons from Ukraine. Accessed: May 17, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://armyrecognition.com/focus-analysis-conflicts/army/armies-in-the-world/british-armed-forces-integrate-drones-into-modern-tactics-amid-lessons-from-ukraine. Search in Google Scholar

[35] Kunertova, D. D. Embracing Drone Diversity: Five Challenges to Western Military Adaptation in Drone Warfare. Apr. 2025. Search in Google Scholar

[36] Shumlianskyi, D. In 2025, the Ukrainian Defense Forces started receiving about 200 thousand drones per month. Militarnyi. Accessed: May 18, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://militarnyi.com/en/news/in-2025-the-ukrainian-defense-forces-started-receiving-about-200-thousand-drones-per-month/. Search in Google Scholar

[37] Ukraine announces plan to boost FPV drone arsenal. Al Jazeera. Accessed: May 17, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/10/ukraine-announces-plan-to-boost-fpv-drone-arsenal. Search in Google Scholar

[38] Ostafiichuk, D., Budden, P., Murray, D. F. Building & leveraging Ukraine‟s drone capabilities in conflict & beyond: Assessing the defense/security innovation ecosystem. MIT School of Management. Mar. 2025. Search in Google Scholar

[39] Martyniuk, Y. Ukraine deploys 200,000 drones monthly to counter 5-to-1 Russian infantry advantage near Pokrovsk, WSJ reports - Euromaidan Press. Accessed: May 18, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://euromaidanpress.com/2025/02/09/ukraine-deploys-200000-drones-monthly-to-counter-5-to-1-russian-infantry-advantage-near-pokrovskwsj-reports/. Search in Google Scholar

[40] Anshuman, N. Harnessing the Power of Drone Autonomy: Integrating AI and Swarm Tactics in Modern Warfare. Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS). Dec. 2024. [Online]. Available: https://cenjows.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Brig_Anshuman_Narang_IB_Dec_2024_CENJOWS.pdf. Search in Google Scholar

[41] Oleksenko, O., Huk, O., Snitsarenko, V., Ikaіev, D., Rahulin, V. On the Features of the Combat Application of Fpv Drones in the War between Russia and Ukraine. dndivsovt. Dec. 2024; vol. 22, no. 4. 99-105. doi: 10.37701/dndivsovt.22.2024.12. Search in Google Scholar

[42] Fedorovich, O., Krytskyi, D., Leshchenko, O., Yashina, O., Malieieva, Y. Modeling waves of a strike drones swarm for a massive attack on enemy targets. reks. Apr. 2024; vol. 2024, no. 2. 203-212. doi: 10.32620/reks.2024.2.16. Search in Google Scholar

[43] Тараповський, С., Антонішин, М., Грамак, О., Войцеховський, Р., Тарасов, О., Problems of Organizing Communication and Controlling Swarms of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones). МНЖ Military Science. Jan. 2025; vol. 2, no. 4. 218-228. doi: 10.62524/msj.2024.2.4.18. Search in Google Scholar

[44] Olena, FPV Drone Ukraine: Use and Types. Dignitas. Accessed: May 18, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://dignitas.fund/blog/fpv-drone-ukraine/. Search in Google Scholar

[45] Samus, M. Lessons Learned from the War in Ukraine: The Impact of Drones. New Strategy Center. 2024. Accessed: May 18, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://newstrategycenter.ro/project/lessons-learned-from-the-war-in-ukraine-the-impact-of-drones-2/. Search in Google Scholar

[46] Abhishek, S. The Air-Surface Littoral: Tomorrows Kurukshetra (Battleground). Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS). 2025. [Online]. Available: https://cenjows.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Col_Abhishek_Singh_WA_Mar_25_CENJOWS.pdf. Search in Google Scholar

[47] Pino, A., Pettigrew, S. Drones Having Psychological Impact On Soldiers. TRADOC G2 Operational Environment Enterprise. 2024. Accessed: May 18, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://oe.tradoc.army.mil/product/drones-having-psychological-impact-on-soldiers/. Search in Google Scholar

[48] Ilie, F. Research on Increasing the Degree of Individual Protection against Bullets through the use of Ceramic Materials. Scientific Bulletin. Jun. 2021; vol. 26, no. 1. 46-52. doi: 10.2478/bsaft-2021-0006. Search in Google Scholar

[49] Aleshchenko, V. Psychological well-being of a serviceman оf the armed forces of Ukraine. Psychological Journal. Nov. 2024; no. 13. 73-79. doi: 10.31499/2617-2100.13.2024.315014. Search in Google Scholar

[50] Mehlman, J. Ukraine Leverages Drone Footage on Social Media. The Forum. Accessed: May 18, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.cmcforum.com/post/ukraine-leverage-drone-footage-on-social-media. Search in Google Scholar

[51] Spansvoll, R. The Weaponisation of Social Media, Crowdfunding and Drones: A People‟s War in the Digital Age. The RUSI Journal. Feb. 2024; vol. 169, no. 1–2. 46-60. doi: 10.1080/03071847.2024.2350478. Search in Google Scholar

[52] Bennetts, M. Drone chief fights psychological war with videos of dying Russians. Accessed: May 18, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.thetimes.com/world/russia-ukraine-war/article/drone-chief-fights-psychological-war-with-videos-of-dying-russians-jvvlh0cvr. Search in Google Scholar

[53] Ukraine‟s 15-Km Drone Kill Zone: A Game Changer in Warfare. InsideFPV. Accessed: May 18, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://insidefpv.com/blogs/blogs/ukraine-s-15-km-drone-kill-zone-a-game-changer-in-warfare. Search in Google Scholar

[54] Bucăța, G., Popescu, V. F., Cioacă, C., Comșa, O. Realitatea virtuală și aplicațiile sale în procesul de conducere a trupelor militare. RRIA. Jun. 2023; vol. 33, no. 2. 7-22. doi: 10.33436/v33i2y202301. Search in Google Scholar

[55] Fedorchuk, A., Zalozh, V., Bambuza, D. Requirements and Methodological Approaches to the Training of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Operators for the Units of the State Border Service of Ukraine. NANGUHAL. 2024; vol. 1, no. 88. 157-162. doi: 10.33405/2078-7480/2024/1/88/302300. Search in Google Scholar

[56] Dodu, P.-E. Maintenance Aspects of Ukrainian Drones. Strategic Impact. Oct. 2024; vol. 91, no. 2, 112-129. doi: 10.53477/1842-9904-24-12. Search in Google Scholar

[57] Startsev, V., Lekakh, А., Musienko, О., Gurin, O., Karmannyi, Ye. Scientific and Technical Approaches to Building a System of Delivery of Material and Technical Equipment for the Needs of the Air Force Units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with the Use of Truck UAV Complexes. ts. Dec. 2023; no. 2(2). 63-73. doi: 10.37701/ts.02.2023.08. Search in Google Scholar

[58] Detsch, J. Ukraine‟s Cheap Drones Are Decimating Russia‟s Tanks. Foreign Policy. Accessed: May 18, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://foreignpolicy.com/2024/04/09/drones-russia-tanks-ukraine-war-fpv-artillery/. Search in Google Scholar

[59] Hambling, D. New Report Says Drones Now Destroying Two Thirds Of Russian Vehicles. Forbes. Accessed: May 18, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2025/02/18/new-report-drones-now-destroying-two-thirds-of-russian-targets/. Search in Google Scholar

[60] Drones have become the dominant killers in the Ukraine War. National Security News. Accessed: May 18, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://nationalsecuritynews.com/2025/04/drones-have-become-the-dominant-killers-inthe-ukraine-war/. Search in Google Scholar

[61] Kirichenko, D. The Rush for AI-Enabled Drones on Ukrainian Battlefields. Lawfare. Dec. 2024; Accessed: May 18, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-rush-for-ai-enabled-drones-on-ukrainian-battlefields. Search in Google Scholar