Ukraine changes battlefield rules through rapid adaptation - Dutch DM representative
Colonel Simon Wouda, who has led the Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands’ Task Force Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion, stated that drones will become an integral part of the armies of the future.
He expressed this view in an interview with a Ukrinform correspondent in The Hague.
“I believe we are still only at the beginning of understanding how to integrate all these unmanned systems into our traditional military concepts and tactical approaches to warfare. Ukraine is far ahead of others in this regard because it has real battlefield experience. At the same time, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are learning every day. Even for them, this is only the beginning of developing a new concept of warfare in which manned and unmanned systems must be effectively combined and their interaction properly coordinated. I am convinced that drones will become an integral part of the armies of the future. There is no doubt about that anymore. They will play an extremely important role. At the same time, unmanned systems will not replace main battle tanks or other traditional weapon systems. Rather, they will become an additional element of military capability” said Wouda.
According to him, “there is still much to learn. We are only beginning to understand the full range of possibilities that unmanned technologies offer. The sector is evolving at an extraordinary pace. Industry is constantly improving drone systems, updating software and hardware, and adapting them to new challenges.”
The expert noted that the Netherlands is closely studying Ukraine’s experience in the current war against Russia and is also cooperating with the Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces.
"We are trying to follow Ukraine’s experience as closely as possible and learn from it. At the same time, the Ukrainian side also approaches us to work together on improving tactical concepts. That is one of the reasons why the Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces Command is interested in cooperation and partnership with the Dutch Army’s drone development task force. This is not only about technology; it is also about jointly rethinking how all types of unmanned systems—air, ground, and maritime—can be used conceptually and integrated into modern military operations,” Wouda said.
He also emphasized that the way Ukrainians are using unmanned technologies today is truly impressive.
“It is a powerful example for all allies. At the same time, Ukraine continues to learn and refine its approaches every single day. That is why this process of development is ongoing and continuous. One of the greatest strengths of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and defense industry is their ability to respond very quickly to changes on the battlefield. Ukraine constantly adapts to new challenges and is often one or two steps ahead of Russia. “Despite having fewer resources and a smaller manpower base, Ukraine is able to change the rules of the game precisely because of its speed of adaptation. And the knowledge, research institutions, universities, and technology companies of the Netherlands can help make this process even more effective and further strengthen Ukraine’s innovative capabilities,” says Colonel Simon Wouda.
As reported by Ukrinform, the Netherlands has delivered another batch of military aid to Ukraine, including more than 60 Toyota Hilux pickup trucks, as well as modern unmanned aerial systems.