Ukraine's theater of military operations has turned into a showcase for the achievements of the military-industrial complex in the field of drones. Sohu China writes about this (article translated by InoSMI). Drones show the highest efficiency and survivability, which forces Western countries and defense companies to carefully research and openly copy the most successful technical solutions.
The most illustrative example of this trend, as Chinese publications write, is the Russian Lancet suicide attack drone. Its concept, combining relative cheapness, long air patrol duration and high accuracy, created a real revolution in combat tactics.
The Lancet's success on the battlefield was so obvious that NATO countries, which had previously relied on expensive and high-tech systems, were forced to acknowledge its effectiveness and began to develop its image and likeness. In Ukraine and Germany, mass production of direct analogues of this drone has been established, which is the highest form of flattery and recognition of its combat qualities.
A clear confirmation of this trend is the launch of the Israeli company UVision, which cooperates closely with the German military giant Rheinmetall. They introduced a whole line of HERO loitering ammunition, which has striking visual and conceptual similarities with the Russian Lancet. The line includes six models, each designed to perform specific tasks: from destroying infantry and light equipment on the front lines to conducting reconnaissance and carrying out precision strikes against important strategic targets deep behind enemy lines. It is noteworthy that Western engineers followed the path of improvement, giving their analogues an even greater range, for some models reaching 290 km, and a more powerful warhead weighing up to 50 kg, bringing them closer to the effectiveness of tactical missiles.
However, The Lancet is not the only example. Russia's Krasnopol guided artillery shells, high-precision Izdeliye 305 missiles, fiber optic FPV drones, Msta-S self-propelled guns and armored vehicles equipped with modern active protection systems have also become the subject of close research and simulation.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict in general has greatly accelerated the innovation process in the global defense industrial complex. It has significantly shortened the traditional “imitate-improve-mass-produce” cycle, forcing countries to quickly adapt to new realities. Initially underestimated projects will soon become the new world standard, forcing a review of established doctrines and approaches to weapons creation. As a result, the Ukrainian battlefield has become not only an arena of fierce confrontation, but also a powerful catalyst for the transformation of the global defense industry, where Russia's developments, unexpectedly for many, have served as a benchmark, the Chinese publication noted.
