O impacto dos veículos aéreos não tripulados nas operações de combate na guerra Rússia-Ucrânia

Abstract

This dissertation analyzes the impact of the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, in the combat operations of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, emphasizing their strategic and operational relevance. The main objective of the study is to understand how drones influenced the conduct of military operations, identifying the advantages gained and extracting lessons for national defense, particularly for the Brazilian Navy. The research adopts a qualitative methodology, with documentary and bibliographic analysis of military, strategic, and technical-scientific sources. The study is organized into seven chapters, covering the historical-geopolitical context of the conflict, the concepts of hybrid warfare, the analysis of the evolution and use of drones, the tactics employed by Russian and Ukrainian forces, the operational advantages of UAVs, the lessons for Brazilian defense, and the conclusions. The results show that the extensive and multifunctional use of drones has reshaped contemporary military practices, transforming these platforms into central elements on the battlefield. UAVs have proven to be versatile in carrying out surveillance, reconnaissance, precision strikes, electronic warfare, among other missions, altering the tactical balance and generating significant strategic effects. The conflict exposed the ability of drones of various sizes – from long-range platforms to improvised FPV drones – to provide situational superiority and overwhelm enemy defenses through coordinated swarms. It was found that Ukrainian effectiveness stemmed not only from equipment sophistication, but also from innovative operational doctrines, decentralized production, and high adaptability, factors that amplified the strategic impact of UAVs. It is concluded that drones act as force multipliers and strategic transformation vectors in modern warfare. Their planned incorporation and alignment with national defense guidelines, along with continuous investment in technological development, training, and infrastructure, emerges as a crucial factor for strengthening Brazil’s surveillance, rapid response, and deterrence capabilities in territorial and maritime domains.