The Drone War in Ukraine Is Cheap, Deadly, and Made in China

The ongoing war in Ukraine, which began when Russian tanks invaded the country, is now almost a year old. This conflict has proved to be unique in that both sides have made extensive use of small drones, which are cheap but remarkably effective. These drones can be bought in electronics stores or assembled using simple hobby kits, and they are proving to be crucial in the conflict.

One organization that has been at the forefront of the development of these small drones is Aerorozvidka, which is made up of volunteer drone enthusiasts and tech experts. This group has become one of the world's leading experts in building, modifying, and using small, cheap drones in warfare. Their DIY, crowdfunded drones have been a significant factor in halting Russia's ill-fated 40-mile mechanized convoy heading towards Kyiv, which was stopped due to night attacks by Aerorozvidka’s drones.

The journalist who has been documenting the use of drones in the conflict has found that Chinese drone hobby company DJI dominates the market. DJI drones are by far the most popular drones in the Ukraine war, used (and demanded) by fighters far more than any other drone type. Of the 463 drone incident entries in which the drone was positively identified, it was a DJI product 59% of the time. Combatants on both sides are aware that DJI has the power to remotely geofence the drones it produces to make them harder to operate within Ukraine and Russia, but despite this, there are few viable alternatives to the easy availability, cheap price, and ease of use that DJI offers.

The non-DJI consumer and DIY drones used by fighters in the Ukraine war are a more diverse group, including drones made by China's Autel, cheap DJI knockoffs sold on platforms like AliExpress, and custom-built drones produced by organizations like Ukraine’s Aerorozvidka. The drone war in Ukraine is cheap, deadly, and made in China, with drones being fuelled by crowdsourced donations. The drones are a crucial factor in the ongoing conflict, and as long as the war continues, they will play a significant role in it.