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How Drones Fight: How Small Drones are Revolutionizing Warfare
Historian and systems engineer Lars Celander surveys the different types of drones, detailing their navigation, communication, sensor systems and weaponry.
An in-depth analysis of how drones have revolutionized ground combat, including combat experience from recent wars.
In 2020, Azerbaijan used drones to defeat Armenia, and large-scale use of small drones in Ukraine since 2022 has been so effective that it has rendered large-scale maneuver warfare largely impossible. Drones enable a military force to operate over enemy-held territory at little risk to its soldiers. Used to enable detailed observation and accurate direct mortar and artillery fire, they can also be the weapon—attacking specific targets or suppressing enemy fire or forces. On these missions a drone might be closely controlled by a trained pilot, or it might use its own sensors and software to make decisions on routes and actions. Yet despite the dramatic effect drones have already had on the battlefield, drone technology is still in its infancy—perhaps comparable to the stage of development that aircraft reached during World War I.
As drones will surely continue to disrupt the battlefield, it is crucial for anyone with an interest in modern and future warfare to understand how drones operate, what they are already capable of, and how they may further evolve. Historian and systems engineer Lars Celander explains the engineering and physics of drones, their capabilities and limitations. He surveys the different types of drones, detailing the different navigation, communication and sensor systems that are currently in use and the various weapons a drone can be equipped with. Exploring not only the tactics of drone operations to date but the various detection methods, tactics, and weapons currently utilized in counter-drone warfare, he evaluates what drones have contributed to recent wars and what the future of drone warfare may hold.
An in-depth analysis of how drones have revolutionized ground combat, including combat experience from recent wars.
In 2020, Azerbaijan used drones to defeat Armenia, and large-scale use of small drones in Ukraine since 2022 has been so effective that it has rendered large-scale maneuver warfare largely impossible. Drones enable a military force to operate over enemy-held territory at little risk to its soldiers. Used to enable detailed observation and accurate direct mortar and artillery fire, they can also be the weapon—attacking specific targets or suppressing enemy fire or forces. On these missions a drone might be closely controlled by a trained pilot, or it might use its own sensors and software to make decisions on routes and actions. Yet despite the dramatic effect drones have already had on the battlefield, drone technology is still in its infancy—perhaps comparable to the stage of development that aircraft reached during World War I.
As drones will surely continue to disrupt the battlefield, it is crucial for anyone with an interest in modern and future warfare to understand how drones operate, what they are already capable of, and how they may further evolve. Historian and systems engineer Lars Celander explains the engineering and physics of drones, their capabilities and limitations. He surveys the different types of drones, detailing the different navigation, communication and sensor systems that are currently in use and the various weapons a drone can be equipped with. Exploring not only the tactics of drone operations to date but the various detection methods, tactics, and weapons currently utilized in counter-drone warfare, he evaluates what drones have contributed to recent wars and what the future of drone warfare may hold.
- GenresMilitary Fiction
208 pages, Paperback
Published August 15, 2024
15 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
June 2, 2025
I really thought they missed out on calling this book "Everything you always wanted to know about Military Drones* (*but were afraid to Ask) "- until I saw that the author had written another book called "How Carriers Fought" about carrier operations in WWII. Lars Celander served as a systems engineer in the military -and then a design engineer in Radar and Radio Coms systems in industry, and in this book he takes us through all the pertinent facts about Military Drones and how they change battlefields. With this new technology exploding since the turn of the century- and so prominent in the last few combat zones around the world- Military history buffs and general audience readers can use this book to download the basics or do a deeper dive.
Celander is all about laying out the facts about each sub technology used in the drone game- then drawing the reader down various learning trails to understand how drones take part in combat. He's good about explaining trade-off and compromises with power/weight/firepower. The latter part of the book takes all our learning for a ride through recent wars where Drones have been decisive. Of particular interest is the Azerbaijan- Armenian war of 2020- while the rest of us were dealing with Covid- where the Azeri forces used drones extensively and creatively. The impact of this technology on the Ukrainian battlefield is also discussed. This is a compelling package about a newly decisive technology at war.
There are few adult themes and no graphic injury passages, so this a book for the Junior Reader over 11/12 years with a aviation or technology interest. For the Gamer/Modeler/Military Enthusiast- its a bit of a mixed bag. There is enough information here for a Team Yankee/Battlegroup Northag/Modern War Rules player to incorporate drones into your scenarios- but it might be a lot of work. The Modeler gets a lot of diorama/build ideas - but will also need a bunch of other sources. The Military Enthusiast wins- getting a complex new side of the modern battlefield explained in simple to understand terms. I think any general audience reader, who feels ignorant about military drones, can catch up pretty fast with this read.
Celander is all about laying out the facts about each sub technology used in the drone game- then drawing the reader down various learning trails to understand how drones take part in combat. He's good about explaining trade-off and compromises with power/weight/firepower. The latter part of the book takes all our learning for a ride through recent wars where Drones have been decisive. Of particular interest is the Azerbaijan- Armenian war of 2020- while the rest of us were dealing with Covid- where the Azeri forces used drones extensively and creatively. The impact of this technology on the Ukrainian battlefield is also discussed. This is a compelling package about a newly decisive technology at war.
There are few adult themes and no graphic injury passages, so this a book for the Junior Reader over 11/12 years with a aviation or technology interest. For the Gamer/Modeler/Military Enthusiast- its a bit of a mixed bag. There is enough information here for a Team Yankee/Battlegroup Northag/Modern War Rules player to incorporate drones into your scenarios- but it might be a lot of work. The Modeler gets a lot of diorama/build ideas - but will also need a bunch of other sources. The Military Enthusiast wins- getting a complex new side of the modern battlefield explained in simple to understand terms. I think any general audience reader, who feels ignorant about military drones, can catch up pretty fast with this read.
Displaying 1 of 1 review