Russia And Ukraine Are Using One-Time Use Drones. Future Wars May Not.

Over the past year, the Russia-Ukraine War has been defined by the widespread use of one-time use drone systems, including first-person-view (FPV) drones and loitering munitions. As countries prepare for the future battlefield, they are incorporating lessons from this conflict and developing similar drone systems for their arsenals. However, a recent white paper by Teledyne-FLIR suggests that rather than using one-time use drones, future conflicts will need loitering munitions that are recoverable and reusable.

The Rise of One-Time Use Drones

The characteristics of the Russia-Ukraine War made one-time use drones expedient. Early in the war, both sides embraced drone warfare, with Russia relying heavily on the Orlan-10 for surveillance and Ukraine employing the TB-2 Bayraktar for strike missions. As the war progressed, Ukraine urgently needed more drones to support its ground operations, so it turned to its commercial technology sector to rapidly produce them. Early efforts had limited success, as Russian electronic warfare systems easily neutralized the modified commercial drones being fielded by Ukraine. Ukrainian drone companies responded by developing more sophisticated drones which were subsequently used to deliver explosive payloads. These tactical gains were often short-lived, as Russia adapted their counter-drone systems, and Ukraine was forced to continuously iterate new drone variants. Given the speed of innovation and battlefield urgency, designing drones for reuse was not practical. Still, Ukraine found success with one-way attack drones, and Russia soon adopted similar tactics.

Loitering munitions are expected to continue supporting ground operations in future conflicts. Indeed, the U.S. Department of Defense recently announced plans to reduce funding for manned systems, such as attack helicopters, in favor of drone swarms. There is a growing view that infantry squads will soon operate as integrated teams of soldiers, ground robots, and drones, with drones providing both surveillance and precision strike capabilities.

The Case for Reusable Loitering Munitions

While loitering munitions will likely be core assets in future conflicts, Teledyne-FLIR argues these systems should also be recoverable and reusable. Many drones are currently wasted when jammed, unable to locate targets, or no longer needed mid-mission. In such cases, they are simply lost. A reusable loitering munition, such as the Teledyne-FLIR Rogue 1, could be disarmed and then recovered, allowing it to be used on a future mission.

According to the Teledyne-FLIR white paper, reusable loitering munitions would require a different design philosophy than the one-time use versions. Instead of being optimized for a single strike, these drones would be built for adaptability and durability. For example, the Rogue 1 allows for modular payloads including advanced sensors, targeting systems, and mission-specific munitions. It also features robust processing capabilities, hardened anti-jamming systems, and advanced navigation tools, allowing them to function in a jammed environment.

While reusable drones have higher unit costs than disposable ones, their total lifecycle cost has the potential to be significantly lower. One-time use drones are lost after each mission, regardless of success. This is significant since a large number of drones are lost to jamming, with both sides fielding increasingly advanced electronic warfare systems. Reusable drones, in contrast, can be recovered and reused in these cases, lowering long-term costs and logistical strain, particularly in high-attrition environments.

Another significant advantage is in training. Reusable drones allow operators to train on the actual platform, replacing live warheads with inert payloads. This accelerates training while also improving pilot proficiency. Teledyne-FLIR’s white paper indicates that Ukraine currently requires 30 days to train their pilots on FPV drones. The white paper then forecasts that with reusable drones, training becomes more streamlined especially since the platform will likely be used for a significant amount of time.

Further, reusable drones promote the development of swarming capabilities, in which multiple drones can coordinate to complete a mission. Swarming is challenging when the drone fleet is comprised of a number of different drones that each have a short shelf-life. Standardized, recoverable platforms simplify coordination since the swarm could be comprised of one drone type, with different drones carrying different payloads. Although it is unclear whether Russia or Ukraine have fielded true drone swarms, most military analysts agree that such technologies will play an expanding role in future wars.

Challenges of Reusable Loitering Munitions

Despite their advantages, reusable drones come with tradeoffs. One concern is that standardized platforms are easier to detect and target. Non-kinetic countermeasures, such as jamming, can be mitigated with adaptable control systems that resist interference. However, kinetic countermeasures become more effective as the visual and acoustic signature of a drone remains consistent, as would be the case for a reusable platform. This makes it easier for detection systems to identify and then target the platform.

Another concern involves the willingness to deploy reusable drones in high-risk environments. One-time use drones are relatively inexpensive and are often used aggressively before becoming obsolete, encouraging rapid deployment. Reusable drones, with higher upfront costs and longer expected service lives, may be perceived differently. They may be treated as durable equipment tracked on property books, adding logistical and administrative burdens. This could discourage aggressive use, especially if there is concern over accountability or the risk of losing valuable hardware.

A Mixed Future

Drones will continue to shape future conflicts, but their design and employment will vary. Teledyne-FLIR presents a compelling argument for reusable loitering munitions, which offer notable benefits in training, cost-efficiency, and adaptability. These systems also support the evolution of swarm tactics and more sustainable force structures. At the same time, one-time use drones offer versatility, low per-unit cost, and responsiveness to emerging threats. Given the complex dynamics of drone warfare, it is unlikely that future militaries will be able to rely exclusively on one model. Instead, it will involve a mix of reusable and expendable systems, deployed based on mission needs, environmental conditions, and strategic considerations.