Application and Enlightenment of UAV in the Russia-Ukraine Conflict

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1009-086x.2025.06.005

Abstract

Abstract:

The Russia-Ukraine conflict has witnessed new application styles of unmanned aerial vehicles （UAVs） such as “order strike”， “space-based star chain interconnection”， and “low-cost large-scale application”， which create classic cases of “the smaller defeats the bigger”. The conflict provides a “testing ground” for the systematic application of UAVs in modern warfare. Based on the open source intelligence information， this paper systematically combs the UAV equipment of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Based on typical UAV combat cases， this paper analyzes the new characteristics and styles of UAV operation application in the process of situational awareness， battlefield communication， command and control， and strike confrontation. From the perspective of equipment construction， this paper proposes countermeasures and suggestions for high-cost-effectiveness-ratio defense of UAVs.

Key words: Russia-Ukraine conflict, unmanned aerial vehicle（UAV）, operation application, kill chain, unmanned combat

摘要：

俄乌冲突中涌现了“订单式打击”“天基星链互联”“低成本规模化运用”等新型无人机作战运用样式，创造了“以小博大”的经典案例，为无人机在现代战争中成体系运用提供了“试验场”。基于开源情报信息，系统梳理了俄乌冲突中双方参战无人机装备情况，结合典型无人机战例分析了无人机在态势感知、战场通联、指挥控制、打击对抗等过程中呈现的作战运用新特点、新样式，从装备建设视角提出了无人机高效费比防御的对策建议。

关键词: 俄乌冲突, 无人机, 作战运用, 杀伤链, 无人作战

CLC Number:

E926.3

Junbiao ZHANG, Jing WU, Fei ZHAO, Li FANG. Application and Enlightenment of UAV in the Russia-Ukraine Conflict[J]. Modern Defense Technology, 2025, 53(6): 37-45.

张君彪, 吴静, 赵飞, 方丽. 俄乌冲突中无人机作战运用情况及启示[J]. 现代防御技术, 2025, 53(6): 37-45.

Figures/Tables 13

Fig. 1 Main UAV equipment of the Russian army

Fig. 2 Main UAV equipment of the Ukrainian army

Fig. 3 Paper UAV

Fig. 4 Typical UAV used by the Russian army

Fig. 5 Locating and destroying the “M1A1 SA” tank

Fig. 6 Tu-141 Strizh UAV

Fig. 7 Russia’s strategic airport and damaged Tu-22M3 strategic bombers

Fig. 8 TB-2 reconnaissance and strike integrated UAV

Fig. 9 Neptune anti-ship missile

Fig. 10 Damaged Moscow missile cruiser

Fig. 11 Number of infantry targets struck by FPV UAVs

Fig. 12 Number of vehicles struck by FPV UAVs

Fig. 13 Number of defensive positions struck by FPV UAVs

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