The Ukrainian war as a driving force for innovation in the field of military drones.Image: AP
interview
April 19, 2026, 11:19 amApril 19, 2026, 12:33 p.m
The Ukraine war and the recent Iran war show the increasingly important role of drones in armed conflicts. In an interview with watson, Ivo Capaul, researcher at the Center for Security Studies (CSS) at ETH Zurich, explains the special role of drones in warfare.
The Ukrainian president was recently a sought-after man in the Middle East conflict. Why are Ukrainian systems so well suited to Iranian drones?
This is due to the dynamic of innovation in drone technology, which is prevalent in the war with Russia. Ukraine was exposed to thousands of nightly Russian drone attacks. The missiles used for this purpose are based on the Iranian drone type Shahed. Ukraine therefore has extensive experience in detecting, capturing and defending against the very drones that Iran is now using to attack countries in the Gulf region.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visits Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar.Image: X
The Gulf states do not have the necessary means to fend them off?
The attacked Gulf states as well as the US military bases in the region are, broadly speaking, prepared to defend against fighter jets and ballistic missiles. However, since the drones used here fly lower, slower and often in swarms, the existing air defense systems are not necessarily suitable for drone defense. In addition, a Patriot missile costs around two to three million dollars, while a Shahed drone only costs a few thousand dollars. From an economic point of view, conventional air defense quickly reaches its limits. When it comes to drone defense, there is a lot to be learned from Ukraine.
To person
Ivo Capaul is a researcher at the Center for Security Studies (CSS) at ETH Zurich. His research focuses on drone warfare and hybrid conflict management. The aim of the CSS is to contribute as much research findings as possible to the Swiss debate.
Image: zVg
Why are drones used in conflicts?
I see three fundamental factors as to why drones are used so frequently in current conflicts: Firstly, they are cheap to purchase. It is not difficult to obtain them because they are dual-use goods, i.e. goods for which there are both civil and military applications. Second, they are relatively effective in combat operations, especially in terms of cost-benefit ratio. Not every drone hits its target, quite the opposite. However, they are subject to wear and tear as they are comparatively cheap, but still relatively effective. The third factor is the large quantities in which small drones can be produced and used.
Where do you see the dangers of the increased use of drones in wars?
That depends on the perspective. A danger arises from the wide availability of drones. Since these are dual-use goods, non-state or terrorist actors also have the opportunity to use certain drones. I see a further danger in the fact that the threshold for using drones is being lowered, precisely because the conflicting party that uses drones does not immediately risk its own losses.
How exactly are the drones used in the Ukraine war?
Roughly speaking, there are two use cases for unmanned aircraft: On the one hand, we have the tactical use of drones along the front line. There is a five to ten kilometer wide “death zone” where both infantry and armored vehicles can hardly get through.
Why hardly anyone gets through it?
Because both sides deploy a large number of reconnaissance and attack drones along the front line. In my opinion, this oversaturation of drones near the front is one reason why the front line in Ukraine is hardly moving.
“In my opinion, this oversaturation of drones near the front is one reason why the front line in Ukraine is hardly moving.”
Ivo Capaul
Because both sides have equally good drones?
Assessing the quality of the individual systems would again be a separate question. What is certain is that there is a constant competition between innovations and counter-innovations between the two warring parties – this is the innovation dynamic already mentioned.
What does this dynamic of innovation look like in the Ukraine war? Do you have any examples?
At first, for example, an attempt was made to “jam” the connection between the drone and the pilot, i.e. to disrupt it. In response, drones with fiber optic cables were used, with a permanent connection between the drone and the pilot. Recently, we are increasingly seeing AI-controlled drones in which the radio connection cannot be disrupted because the drone controls itself more or less autonomously in certain phases of flight.
Drone pilots do not put their lives in immediate danger.Image: keystone
And what does the second type of use of drones look like?
Because the two warring parties have realized that the war can hardly be decided at the front, they try to influence the outcome of the war with strategic strikes in the enemy’s hinterland. Russia attacks Ukrainian cities with Iranian-made long-range drones. In return, Ukraine is trying to weaken Russia with drone attacks on its defense industry and energy infrastructure.
How was Ukraine able to acquire so much know-how in such a short time? Is this because of the hardship that the war brought with it?
Yes, the war is largely responsible for so much innovation in military drones occurring so quickly. The war created an urgent need because Ukraine is a smaller country with a smaller population than Russia. At the same time, there was a shortage of more conventional weapon systems at the start of the war. To compensate for these disadvantages, Ukraine had to look for alternative solutions that were cheap, effective and usable in large quantities. An entire ecosystem around drone technology has now emerged in Ukraine.
Can you elaborate on that? What does this ecosystem look like?
It is a close cooperation between the Ukrainian state, the private sector and the armed forces. The Ukrainian state is creating the framework conditions and creating high demand. The private sector, which in the drone sector is often young start-ups, sees this demand signal and reacts to it. There is also a close relationship between the armed forces and the private sector. New technologies, not just drones, are being used on the front lines. Feedback then comes back very quickly to the manufacturers, who then make adjustments within weeks and deliver improved systems to the front. This is what is meant by fast innovation cycles.
“I think it is advisable to think about and further develop drone technology and drone defense, attack and defense together.”
Ivo Capaul
What do the latest developments in drone warfare mean for Switzerland? Are Patriot systems now unnecessary? Do we need more drones?
Certainly not unnecessary, there were also attacks with fighter jets and ballistic missiles in the Iran War. It takes both. What doesn’t work, in my opinion, is to believe that you can do “leapfrogging”, i.e. get up to date with the latest drone technology tomorrow or the day after. Continuous capability development is also needed in drone defense.
Why?
In the classic defense procurement process, you order something and a few years later it is on the farm. With the current dynamic of innovation in drone technology, the systems would then be out of date again. Due to the dynamics of innovation – innovation and counter-innovation – I also think it is advisable to think and further develop drone technology and drone defense, attack and defense together.