A drone instead of a soldier? The President of UMO on the revolution on the modern battlefield
Unmanned technologies are changing the way warfare is conducted. Arkadiusz Szuba, president of UMO, argues that the most important task of the new systems is not to replace humans, but to protect their lives – especially in the reality of the growing importance of electronic warfare.
Why did you choose fiber optic control instead of standard radio transmission?
On the modern battlefield, we deal with various types of operations, including intense electronic warfare, the purpose of which is to disrupt radio-controlled systems. To reduce this risk, we decided to use optical fiber. This solution ensures very fast transmission that is practically impossible to disturb. Moreover, it enables the transmission of large amounts of data – one control station can communicate with many drones at the same time.
So such drones are resistant to classic interference?
Definitely yes. Of course, no system is completely immune to all threats, but the use of optical fiber eliminates the problem of classic radio jamming, which is one of the main challenges on the battlefield today. Our fiber optic drones have a range of up to 40 km, which allows them to perform tasks at distances comparable to those of 155 mm artillery systems.
What have you learned from the tests of this technology on the Ukrainian front?
These tests are still teaching us. Every day we gain new experience and observe what our opponent is working on. What is a breakthrough today may be just a training solution tomorrow. Therefore, we cannot say that we have created one technology – we are constantly developing it, adapting it to changing conditions and threats.
So the battlefield is changing before our eyes?
It has already changed and will continue to change. Dual-use technologies, used both civilian and military, have played a huge role here. Today, drones are becoming a permanent element of the modern battlefield and are significantly changing the way operational activities are conducted. We see this in ongoing conflicts, where unmanned systems increasingly determine the effectiveness of reconnaissance, strike and defense operations. They are increasingly taking over tasks previously performed by traditional means of combat. They can perform functions that were previously performed by assault rifles, mine systems or artillery.
Will the drone then become the basic weapon unit?
In some areas this is already happening. We see this in analyzes and conversations with representatives of various armies. At the same time, very serious dilemmas arise. For example, attempts to combine drone technologies with munitions systems raise serious ethical concerns. There is a risk that instead of increasing our defense capabilities, we will start to exceed boundaries that we should not violate.
What challenges do armies face today in this context?
Europe is in a difficult geopolitical situation and at the same time is facing demographic problems. The most valuable resource of the army today is a human being – a soldier. Technologies such as drones are primarily intended to protect lives. This should be their main goal – increasing the efficiency of operations while limiting human losses.
