I didn't see this posted yet and is perhaps the most culturally important gaming development that has occurred ever.
Without getting into politics or morality of sides, war has been forever changed and favors cheap rapid drone deployment overwhelming more expensive weapons and soldiers. Now the neckbeard eating Cheetos can kill 10 elite soldiers before lunch when he drinks a mountain dew.
Ukraine has released a drone training simulator, and is allegedly similar to how they train their people. They have managed against all odds to repel a much larger and better equipped foe, and are even exporting their tactics and training to the middle east.
These sorts of tactics put heavy manufacturing countries like China in an advantaged spot that I think other countries now must adapt to.
The most interesting part of this war is watching how much asymmetric drone warfare has impacted rear line and logistical security. Using netted roads, jammers, shotguns, cannon-AA guns and jousting midair with other drones have all become commonplace, and I anticipate as AI drones come online there will be anti-drone drones that also fly autonomously. No security is perfect and both sides may still be working out the kinks but I anticipate suicide drones formally falling in line as a compliment to traditional artillery, trading raw power for precision accuracy.
Bigger than protecting logistics and frontline operations is the change in defending places traditionally seen as safe. The Ukrainian bomber attack against Tu-95s and Tu-22M3s was a massive wake up call to everyone, and I’m not sure on what changes are being made beyond not storing your stuff outside, but it wouldn’t be hard for an enemy country to pack a shipping crate full of autonomous drones and pop it open as the delivery truck/train goes by a factory, depot, infrastructure or whatever target you want. There are no safe places anymore, and drones have a chance to inflict massive terror on a population. I’m surprised Iran (or “Iran”) hasn’t done so to the US, getting rid of that feeling of invulnerability.
I’m sure about one thing though: every country will learn the wrong lessons from the Ukraine war and assume every war will be a drone fest because one country was in the beginning stages of upgrading their Air Force to modern standards after the USSR collapse stalled development and the other has an Air Force smaller than some private collections.
Absolutely.
Ukraine is already selling their anti drone capabilities and training to middle east countries to counter threats from Iran.