The New Age of Warfare: The Implications of Drone Attacks on Military Assets
The recent incident on August 19th, where a TU-22M, a massive variable-geometry supersonic bomber, was attacked and destroyed on the Soltsy-2 base, has sent shockwaves through the defense community. This attack, deep within Russian territory, on one of their most formidable bombers, is a stark reminder of the evolving nature of modern warfare.
The TU-22M, colloquially known as the Backfire, is a relic from the Cold War era. Produced between 1967 and 1993, with almost 500 units manufactured, these bombers were a testament to the might of the Soviet Air Force. Today, only about 60 of these aircraft remain in active service. The Soltsy-2 base, which was home to a fleet of these bombers, witnessed the destruction of one, while the remaining nine were hastily relocated.
This incident is not just about the loss of a single aircraft. It’s a demonstration of a new mode of warfare that targets the Achilles’ heel of any air force: its grounded assets. The attack was carried out using a drone, a small, remotely piloted aircraft equipped with explosives. This method of warfare is not entirely new. Earlier this year, an A-50, a Russian airborne early warning and control aircraft, was attacked in Belarus using a similar drone.
The use of drones in warfare has been steadily increasing. Their small size, relative inexpensiveness, and ability to be equipped with a range of weapons make them a formidable tool in modern warfare. The attack on the TU-22M was carried out using a “suicide drone”, a drone that is designed to crash into its target, detonating its explosive payload on impact.
The Ukrainian intelligence services have claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that they have operatives within Russia who are carrying out these drone attacks. This claim was later corroborated by British intelligence. The use of drones in this manner is a significant departure from traditional warfare. Instead of large-scale, coordinated attacks, we are now seeing pinpoint strikes carried out with surgical precision.
But why are these attacks happening piecemeal? One would assume that if the objective is to cripple an airbase, a coordinated attack using multiple drones would be more effective. The answer may lie in the capabilities of the attacking force. It’s possible that the Ukrainians, or any other force employing such tactics, do not have the capability to launch large-scale drone attacks. Each drone attack serves as a demonstration of capability, a show of force, but also potentially reveals the attacker’s methods to the defender.
This new mode of warfare poses significant challenges for modern militaries. In the past, airbases, with their runways, hangars, and support infrastructure, were seen as safe zones, places where aircraft could be safely stored and maintained. Now, these bases are potential targets. The grounded aircraft, which are incredibly expensive and time-consuming to produce, are sitting ducks.
The implications of this are far-reaching. Western militaries, including the French, need to rethink their defense strategies. The traditional model of having a few, highly advanced aircraft may no longer be viable. These aircraft, while highly capable in the air, are vulnerable on the ground. The cost of losing even a single modern fighter jet, both in terms of finances and capability, is immense.
