from Hacker News

U.S. Army Plans Increase in Its Use of Drones

by melling on 5/1/25, 1:42 PM with 3 comments

  • by nabla9 on 5/1/25, 1:56 PM

    > War, with plans to equip each of its combat divisions with around 1,000 drones

    That seems inadequate.

    The infantry war has completely changed. Drones are used like artillery munitions. Ukraine uses them at a rate of 10,000 per day. NATO countries need a domestic drone industry.

    At the start of the war in Ukraine, the no-man land between ground troops was typically 500m wide. Currently, the no-man land is 5-7 km. Nobody stays alive for long if they get closer because drones will kill them. Medics say that wounds from small arms are very rare compared to the start of the war. 60% is artillery and 40% is from drones.

  • by sleepyguy on 5/1/25, 2:36 PM