'10 Billion Won Tractor?' Western Tanks Marginalized by Drones, Left in Forests

Expensive Western tanks, once hailed as game-changers, are increasingly becoming obsolete on the Ukrainian frontlines, overshadowed by the pervasive threat of low-cost drones. These formidable machines, some costing as much as $10 million, are now frequently found hidden in forests under camouflage netting, gathering dust, or serving as costly tractors to tow damaged vehicles.

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We are practically not using armored vehicles. We need to find ways to reintroduce tanks by countering drone superiority.

The New York Times reported on the situation with Ukraine's 33rd Independent Mechanized Brigade in the northeastern Kharkiv region, illustrating how advanced tanks like the Leopard are seeing significantly reduced combat deployment. This shift comes after Ukraine's initial urgent requests for such armor, which Western allies eventually agreed to supply in early 2023.

However, the battlefield has rapidly evolved. Cheap, first-person-view (FPV) drones now dominate, adeptly tracking armored vehicles and striking vulnerable points. Even Ukraine's former Commander-in-Chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, recently acknowledged this shift, stating, "We are practically not using armored vehicles," and emphasizing the need to find ways to reintroduce tanks by countering drone superiority.

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very expensive tractors

In response, Ukrainian forces have attempted to adapt by adding protective netting and panels to tanks. Yet, their use in offensive operations has sharply declined. Some tanks are now relegated to roles like towing damaged equipment during periods of reduced drone activity, leading one soldier to describe them as "very expensive tractors." The role of tank crews is also transforming, with many retraining as drone operators, and some newly deployed soldiers have never even operated a tank.

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The future tanks will be unmanned tanks.