Former CIA Director David Petraeus asserts that Ukraine has developed a "new concept of warfare," driven by innovation in unmanned systems and an integrated command and control ecosystem. During his tenth trip to Ukraine, Petraeus observed that Kyiv's forces now possess nearly absolute surveillance and strike capabilities near the frontlines, largely due to their advanced battle management platform, Delta, described as a "military Google maps."
Ukraine is significantly outpacing Western militaries in drone production, with one manufacturer expecting to produce 3 million drones this year alone. Petraeus anticipates artificial intelligence will further accelerate these advancements, leading to algorithmically piloted drones impervious to jamming and potentially enabling autonomous systems within a few years.
Petraeus argues the US must fundamentally rethink its military structure, suggesting the replacement of armored battalions with drone battalions. This requires a "whole new concept of warfare," encompassing doctrine, training, and force structure. He warns that failing to adapt, particularly in counter-drone capabilities, poses increased risks of terrorism, with advancing drone swarm technology and expanding commercial drone use making coordinated attacks harder to detect and defend against. "We don't have systems yet" capable of defending against drone swarms, Petraeus stated, emphasizing the urgent need for the US to learn from Ukraine's innovations.