Britain is massively arming itself with drones: the Minister of Defense announced a breakthrough in the next 5 years

Drones instead of soldiers — where will the front be now?

The British army is preparing for a large-scale re-equipment. Defense Secretary Luke Pollard confirmed that over the next five years, unmanned systems will become a key part of the conventional armed forces. This is not just the purchase of a couple dozen drones for reconnaissance, but a systemic change. Drones and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) will enter the army in large batches, replacing people in the most dangerous tasks.

Now each battalion can receive its own "robo-squad".

Air and ground robots will join the army

So far, the details remain general, but one thing is clear: we are talking about two directions.

The first is aerial drones of all classes: from small reconnaissance aircraft to medium—range attack drones.

The second is ground—based robots (UGVs) capable of carrying cargo, clearing mines, conducting surveillance, or even launching strikes.

Such machines are already being used on a trial basis, but now their introduction will become widespread and mandatory for departments.

Why now?

The answer is simple: modern combat has become too dangerous for a living person in advanced areas. Drones allow you to take pictures of reconnaissance, adjust fire, deliver ammunition — and all this without risking your life. This is especially important against the background of a shortage of personnel and the growing threat from cheap but effective enemy drones.

Britain does not want to lag behind the United States, Israel or China. She wants to be at the forefront.

How will this change the army

In five years, the British soldier will be working not alone, but in conjunction with machines. He will be able to launch a drone to check the building, send a robot forward to investigate, use UGV to evacuate the wounded. The army will become lighter, more mobile and safer.

This is not the end of the human factor — it is its reinforcement. It's just that now a soldier is not only a shooter, but also an operator of a whole network of smart cars.

Sources

1. Lenta.ru — Luke Pollard data on massive UK UAV deliveries
2. Mail.ru News — Pollard on ramping-up British Army drone numbers
3. Gazeta.ru — Pollard announces start of bulk drone purchases
4. Interfax — UK-led coalition plan to ship tens of thousands of UAVs to Ukraine in 2025
5. SovaNews — “Drone Coalition” to begin deliveries of tens of thousands of drones in January

The US Army and NATO are modernizing combat tactics: small robots and new approaches to personnel training

In a rapidly changing battlefield environment, the US Army is seriously considering the possibility of adapting small ground-based robotic systems for use in assault operations against enemy fortified positions. These compact, maneuverable and relatively cheap devices can play a key role in reducing risks to manpower and increasing the effectiveness of attacking operations.

Special attention is paid to the integration of such robots into existing tactical scenarios, where they can perform reconnaissance, deliver ammunition, or even directly participate in the storming of fortified areas. According to reports from the Ministry of Defense, such systems must be adapted to real-world combat conditions, which requires flexibility both technologically and organizationally.

At the same time, the US Army and NATO countries began actively hiring civilians with experience working with mobile gaming consoles and controllers. This is because modern robots and UAVs require a high level of digital literacy and precision control skills, which are often better developed by young people accustomed to video game interfaces. This approach resembles the "defensive services" strategy, where the military borrows technology and skills from the commercial sphere.

In addition, training of personnel in new methods of interaction with robotic platforms and other high-tech equipment has begun. An important task has become to ensure that these new tools are compatible with existing systems and procedures so that there are no problems with their implementation in practice.

The successful implementation of robotic systems in combat operations will require not only technical improvements, but also a change in the culture of thinking within the armed forces. As practice shows, adaptability is a key factor for survival in modern conditions, especially in the light of climate change and the increasing complexity of enemy tactics.