Ukraine Lessons for SOF in Large Scale Combat Operations – Fires, Unmanned Systems, and Intelligence
Artillery at the beginning of the Russian Special Military Operation was the king of battle and most casualty producing weapons system until early 2024 when it was overtaken by UAS by a wide-margin. Both sides are using UAS for multiple roles substituting capabilities traditionally done by different occupational specialties or units. Clearing trenches, creating breach lanes, first person view (FPV) ambushes, close quarters battle to clear rooms, and AFU SOF operations outside of artillery support range, will utilize kinetic UAS in place of artillery. We have not observed SOF units utilizing mortars. The AFU is burning out 155mm artillery barrels at an alarming rate. Some observers state that it is due to the high use and others say it is because they are being fired at “max charge” to avoid counter battery fire.