Ambush Drones 101: Learning A New Type Of Warfare

BusinessAerospace & DefenseAmbush Drones 101: Learning A New Type Of WarfareByDavid Hambling,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I'm a South London-based technology journalist, consultant and authorFollow AuthorApr 24, 2026, 08:34am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.A Ukrainian ambush FPV about to attack a Russian Bukhanka supply truckSerhii SternenkoBoth side in Ukraine make extensive use of ambush drones. Blurring the boundaries between landmines, munitions and aircraft, these are FPVs land and wait for a target. The Russians call them Zhduns ("Waiters") after a cartoon character. Ambush, counter-ambush and even counter-counter-ambush tactics are evolving fast. U.S. forces are still in their early days of using FPVs and finding out how to counter them. They could learn a lot from Ukraine.As the Commander of the Typhoon drone unit of the National Guard of Ukraine, callsign “Michael,” explained, a successful drone ambush is not as easy as it looks on the online videos. Success only comes with careful planning.“Target selection comes first,” says Michael. “We identify exactly what we are hunting.”Setting Up The Ambush Michael says that the target, selected in advance, may be a logistics route, a foot patrol, or an armored column on the move. “We gather data from SIGINT [SIGnals INTelligence – basically analyzing and locating radio traffic] and reconnaissance drones to build a database of routes, timing, and equipment,” says Michael. “This intelligence dictates exactly where and when the drone should land to wait.”MORE FOR YOUAmbushes are carried out with drones controlled by fiber optic cables. These can land without losing their connection, as radio-controlled drones may when dipping below line of sight. The communications require much less power than a radio link so the drone can wait longer. And because it...