Above: F-35 Lihtning II
Drones are the game changers. The big problem is this. The drones are a new dimension for strike capacity. The use of kamikaze drones and drones as miniature reconnaissance planes. It is not new. But the Ukraine war. It is the first. Those include systems used as large-scale weapons. Before that, the drones were used against single targets. And they were meant for assassination operations. But in the Ukraine war, drones play a vital role. 80% of the losses. Form because of drones. Drones are not replacing all weapon systems. But they can cooperate with them.
Drones, and even fiber-optical drones, can be remotely controlled over the internet. The control station requires only an internet connection. So, those systems can be connected to any internet socket. And that means the operator can sit over thousands of kilometers.
The problem. Pilots cannot avoid anything that they don’t see.
The fact is that drones bring at least a new dimension to air defense. Even if the drones that Ukraine uses against Shahed-136 drones are small and slow. Those drones can threaten the low-flying jet fighters. The hovering drone is dangerous. If a jet fighter impacts with drones. They can cause bad damage or even destroy those jet fighters. In this scenario, those very small drones can act as hovering mines. And if pilots don’t see those drones. That can cause destruction. There is also a possibility that Shahed-sized drones can carry air-to-air missiles. Those missiles can be dangerous to jet fighters. If they do not detect those drones or missile launches. The image-recognition systems make stealth fighters vulnerable to those missiles. But the use of them requires. That. Those systems detect the fast-moving fighter.
Also, even small drones can be dangerous. If operators are used against soft targets like aircraft. The new AI-controlled drones can attack targets independently. And even a small drone can make a hole in the aircraft’s body. Large-sized drones . They can have the ability. To shoot missiles and rockets. But they also involve internal warheads. The jet fighter can also drop small drones into the operational area. And those drones can point targets to the laser-guided bombs. The AI-controlled bomb can see the image. Of the target. That's the drone's laser points. And then it can home in on its target using the image stored in its computers.
The problem with drone swarms is simple. They can involve even thousands of drones. Those drones can be easy targets. But that requires defense systems. And the biggest risk is that. The defender uses all its ammunition on those drones. The defender cannot allow any drone to pass the defense. Even a single drone can destroy communication antennas or fuel and ammunition storage. If a jet fighter uses all its missiles and ammunition on drones. It's possible that the enemy fighters can intercept them. Same way. Drones force the air defense to open fire. And that uncovers the AA-systems positions.
Ukrainian Sting interceptor drones. Their speed is about 343 km/h. So, they could be dangerous to A-10 Wrthogs and helicopters. But a jet-fighter could avoid them. Because of their speed and altitudes.
The role of the jet fighter in the future is more complex. It will cooperate with drones and other systems. It can have loyal wngman drones and drone swarms. It can send to risky missions. It can communicate with drone containers that shoot defense drones against attacking drone swarms. And in attack situations, those jet fighters can send drones to destroy air defense. In those cases, the swarm of drones and missiles travels ahead of jet fighters. The drone delivery ability. It brings new roles for jet fighters. The jet fighter can drop the drone in some operational areas. And those drones can destroy high-value targets. The fact is that. A drone can send. The location of the targets. To the headquarters. Or it can attack itself.
A drone is a tool that changes everything. A drone can lurk near the headquarters and runways. The drone can attack the targets. When it sees the jet fighter. The drone that can be dropped from satellites can be used for assassination operations. The drone . That dropped from the orbital trajectory can be used against the high-value targets. The problem with the drones is that. Maybe they cannot destroy large targets. But they can destroy things like radar antennas and network stations. So, the drone swarms can prepare targets by destroying radars and communication antennas. A drone can also send mission-critical data to its owners. The drone that uses Cesium batteries can have virtually unlimited operational time.
In normal cases, high supersonic speed. Along with high-altitude. Protects jet fighters against drones. But if a jet fighter is ambushed on the runway. That fighter is helpless. Drones are easy targets. But that requires. The defense system is switched on. The problem is that. Those drones can travel in containers on civil vehicles. And in some scenarios, the drivers will not even know. That they carry drones. When the container is within the strike distance of the target. Its roof opens. And drones are released. That means the defender might have a very short time to react to drones. The thing is that.
Drones are a new threat. The problem is that any drone can be modified into a weapon. So, also criminal organisations and even street gangs can equip hobby drones. Into explosive carriers. Or kamikaze drones. And that makes them very dangerous. Even if we think that civil drones have no similar protection as military systems. We must realize that those drone defense systems must be turned on. That they are effective.
(https://unherd.com/2026/05/is-this-the-end-of-the-fighter-jet/)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sting_(drone)
https://medium.com/@batrobin/can-drones-end-the-existence-of-the-jet-fighter-51e250560d84















