MBF Group Loitering munitions until a few years ago was seen as a specialized solution intended mainly for selected military units. It has now become one of the most important elements of the modern battlefield and is being developed by the world’s major military powers. The rapid development of electronics, artificial intelligence and unmanned systems has made such platforms increasingly accessible, effective and relatively cheap to produce. As a result, circulating munitions have begun to play a key role in both regional conflicts and in the defense strategies of NATO, European Union and Middle Eastern countries.
Loitering munitions are changing modern armed conflicts
Loitering munitions, often referred to as loitering munitions or kamikaze drone, combine the features of an unmanned aerial vehicle and a precision-guided means of destruction. After launching or taking off, it can remain over a designated area for a long time, keeping watch and waiting for the right moment to launch an attack. Unlike classical guided missiles, the operator has the option of changing the target or aborting the mission late in the operation. This approach significantly increases operational flexibility and allows to respond more effectively to the dynamically changing situation on the battlefield.
The first designs of this type appeared as early as the end of the 20th century and were mainly used to combat radar and enemy air defense systems. Over time, technological developments have led to the development of much more versatile platforms capable of performing a variety of combat tasks. Conflicts in Nagorno-Karabakh, Syria, Iraq and Ukraine have shown that circulating munitions can effectively combat armored vehicles, artillery positions, command centers and military infrastructure. In many cases, it has proven to be a much more cost-effective solution than the use of conventional aviation or expensive missiles.
Types of Loitering munitions and directions of technology development
Today’s Loitering munitions systems can be divided into several basic categories. The smallest designs are intended for single soldiers and subunits operating at short distances. Larger tactical and operational systems can conduct operations over distances of tens or hundreds of kilometers. The most advanced long-range platforms, on the other hand, are becoming part of strategic deterrence and power projection capabilities.
The level of autonomy and the integration of artificial intelligence are becoming increasingly important. Modern systems use advanced optical sensors, thermal imaging and algorithms to help detect and classify objects. This allows them to operate more effectively in an environment of radio interference and with limited communications with the operator. Developments in technology indicate that autonomy will become one of the main factors of technological advantage in the coming years.
Swarm architectures, known as swarm, are being developed in parallel. In such a model, multiple platforms work together simultaneously, exchanging information and coordinating reconnaissance, disruption and strike operations. This type of solution makes it possible to overload the enemy’s defense systems by attacking simultaneously from multiple directions. This is why swarm technologies are currently one of the most intensively developed areas of the UAV and cruise munitions sector.
Ukraine and the Middle East as laboratories of modern drone warfare
The Russian-Ukrainian war has become the largest testing ground for unmanned technology since the end of World War II. Both sides use circulating munitions on a massive scale, running a constant race between means of attack and countermeasure systems. Of particular importance have been low-cost, mass-produced systems that can be rapidly deployed on the front lines. Experience in Ukraine shows that the ability to produce thousands of rigs per month is becoming as important as the technical performance of a single system.
Equally important lessons come from the conflicts in the Middle East. In recent years, Iran, Tehran-backed groups, Hezbollah and Huti have repeatedly used cruise munitions against military and infrastructure targets. Of particular note were the Shahed family systems, which have become one of the most recognizable symbols of modern drone warfare. Analyses of the Israeli-Iranian conflicts show that circulating munitions today are treated not only as a tactical tool, but also as an element of strategic influence on the enemy.
The experience in Ukraine and the Middle East has led to a surge of interest in unmanned systems around the world. A growing number of countries recognize that future conflicts will rely heavily on the massive use of autonomous platforms, precision-guided means of destruction and radio-electronic warfare systems. The economics of warfare are also changing, as a relatively inexpensive unmanned system can neutralize much more expensive targets. That’s why the circulating munitions sector is now one of the fastest-growing segments of the defense industry.
C-UAS systems and radio-electronic warfare – a response to new threats
The growing number of unmanned combat systems has forced the parallel development of technologies designed to detect and neutralize them. As a result, a rapidly growing C-UAS (Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems) sector has emerged, including radar, optoelectronic and radio combat systems. Of particular importance are soft-kill solutions that disrupt drone communications, data transmission and navigation systems without physically destroying them. This approach is often more cost-effective and can effectively counter mass attacks.
The experience in Ukraine has shown that radio-electronic warfare has become one of the most important elements of the modern battlefield. In response, manufacturers are developing increasingly sophisticated systems capable of detecting, classifying and neutralizing threats in real time. Artificial intelligence algorithms that analyze electromagnetic signatures and automatically choose how to counter them are playing an increasingly important role. In practice, this means moving from simple jammers to advanced, multi-layered protection systems.
Europe accelerates investment in unmanned technologies
The increase in security threats and the lessons learned from the war in Ukraine have led to significant changes in the European Union’s defense policy. One of the most important examples is the launch of the SAFE (Security Action for Europe) program, which aims to support joint defense investments by member states. The facility envisages the possibility of mobilizing up to 150 billion euros in funding for the development of military capabilities, industrial production and joint arms purchases. Priority areas include unmanned systems, anti-drone technologies, air defense and solutions to support Europe’s industrial autonomy, among others.
This means that the demand for cruise munitions, C-UAS systems and technologies supporting autonomous unmanned operations will steadily increase in the coming years. European countries increasingly see these solutions not as a supplement to classical military capabilities, but as one of the foundations of future armed forces. Of particular importance are projects developed in Europe, capable of building technological and industrial independence. All indications are that the coming decade will be a period of very intensive development in the sector of circulating munitions and anti-drone systems.
Circulating munitions and C-UAS systems today form two complementary pillars of the modern battlefield. The development of one technology automatically forces the development of another, leading to increasingly sophisticated unmanned ecosystems. Autonomy, fault tolerance, network integration and mass production capability will be key. These are the areas that will guide the development of modern defense technologies in the coming years.
