German military equipment, including the Leopard 2 main battle tank (MBT), faced challenges in the Ukraine-Russia war in 2024, with concerns raised about the effectiveness of heavy armor against drone tactics. FPV drones are changing warfare dynamics, challenging the dominance of main battle tanks. These drones easily penetrate weak top armor, overwhelm tanks, and are difficult to jam. Ukraine produces up to 3 million drones annually, redefining modern conflicts. The drones are cheap, easy to control, and pose a threat to tanks on the battlefield. Tank crews are adding armor cages to their vehicles and hoping for advancements in jamming technology. The effectiveness of tanks in battle is being questioned as drones become more prevalent. Ukraine is manufacturing around 200,000 FPV drones per month, a tenfold increase from early 2024. These drones are proving to be effective tank killers, taking out armored vehicles for a fraction of their cost. The drones are used strategically to disable tanks by targeting their wheels or tracks, forcing the crew to evacuate. Reconnaissance and heavy bomber drones are then deployed to assess and destroy the immobilized tanks. The rise of drone warfare has led to a decline in tank effectiveness, with Ukraine reporting that Russia has lost 10,303 tanks as of March 11, 2025. Ukraine’s investment in drone technology has allowed it to achieve parity with Russia in drone production, leading to a shift in tactics on the battlefield. Armoured warfare has been significantly impacted by the proliferation of small drones in conflict zones, such as the 700-mile front line in the 31-month wider war between Russia and Ukraine. Tanks are now forced to operate more cautiously to evade drones rigged with explosives or grenades. This shift has led to a new era of “cautious tanks,” as drone technology has outpaced anti-drone defenses, making tanks more vulnerable. Russian and Ukrainian tankers are adapting by using anti-drone radio jammers and additional armor to mitigate the risk of drone strikes. The use of first-person-view (FPV) drones has become a major threat to tanks, with thousands of tanks lost in the conflict due to drone attacks. Despite these challenges, tanks remain a valuable asset in warfare, but the tactics of tank warfare have been fundamentally altered by the prevalence of drones.
