AI Drones Transform Ukraine War As Tech Arms Race Escalates

On August 8, 2025, as the war in Ukraine grinds on, the battlefield is being reshaped by a relentless race in drone technology and artificial intelligence. What began as the use of hobbyist quadcopters for reconnaissance has evolved into a high-stakes contest, with both Ukrainian and Russian forces deploying increasingly sophisticated AI-powered drones and automated weaponry. The transformation is so rapid and profound that it’s not just changing tactics on the ground—it’s redefining the very nature of modern warfare.

Türkiye’s Baykar company, a major player in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) development, recently announced successful trials of its Bayraktar Akıncı drone equipped with Ukrainian AI-450T turboprop engines. According to RBC-Ukraine, the tests demonstrated the Akıncı’s ability to deploy ALPAGUT and EREN smart missiles with remarkable target accuracy. Video footage released by Baykar showed the drone taxiing on a runway and taking off, controlled remotely from a ground station. Selçuk Bayraktar, Baykar’s technical director and co-owner, confirmed the successful integration of the Ukrainian engines, which provide the thrust needed for high-altitude, long-endurance missions.

The Bayraktar Akıncı is a testament to international collaboration and technological ambition. Development began in 2018, and by 2019, the first prototype was already fitted with Ukrainian engines. That same year, Baykar Makina and Ukraine’s state company Ukrspetseksport established a joint venture focused on precision weapons and aerospace technology. Just days later, Ukraine delivered two AI-450T engines to Türkiye, setting the stage for the Akıncı’s public debut with weapons at the Teknofest exhibition in September 2019.

This drone isn’t just a marvel of engineering—it’s a powerhouse. The Akıncı can carry up to 1,350 kilograms of combat payload, measures 12.2 meters in length with a 20-meter wingspan, and is capable of remaining airborne for 24 hours at altitudes exceeding 12,000 meters. Its modular design allows for a wide array of weaponry, from air-to-ground missiles to precision-guided bombs. Baykar has ambitious plans for future upgrades, including thermal imaging systems, phased array radars, and high-precision optical cameras. In 2022, preparations began to construct a Bayraktar drone factory in Ukraine, with the aim of producing over 100 drones annually. Construction commenced in 2024, underscoring the deepening partnership and Ukraine’s commitment to indigenous drone production.

But the Akıncı is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. On the Ukrainian frontlines, drones have become both eyes and weapons, fundamentally altering the dynamics of combat. A firsthand account from a Ukrainian Volunteer Army member recalls the pivotal role drones played during the May 2022 battle near Bilohorivka, Luhansk Oblast. Ukrainian drones observed a Russian battalion attempting a river crossing, relaying real-time video to artillery units. The resulting barrage destroyed over 70 vehicles, rendering an entire battalion tactical group combat-ineffective. As the footage spread rapidly on Telegram and other social media, it was clear: war wasn’t just evolving, it was being broadcast, analyzed, and shared in real time.

“With the drone, we could float above the tree line and look into enemy positions with a safety that felt both artificial and thrilling,” recalled the soldier, reflecting on the psychological impact of drone warfare. The buzz of rotors, once a novelty, became synonymous with power. Yet, even amid technological escalation, moments of restraint and humanity surfaced. When a volunteer sent a drone rigged to drop grenades, a Ukrainian platoon commander refused to use it on a quiet Russian observation post, fearing escalation and unnecessary loss of life.

As the war dragged on, the role of artificial intelligence only grew. Reports from the battle for Bakhmut described the delivery of a machine gun turret equipped with AI-assisted targeting. Near Avdiivka, Russian troops encountered remote-operated machine gun emplacements that withstood artillery and small arms fire, only to discover they were unmanned—mechanical sentinels in the chaos of trench warfare. These incidents underscore a new reality: automated, AI-powered defenses are now entrenched on the battlefield.

This AI arms race is driven by cutting-edge hardware, most notably from NVIDIA, the world’s largest company by market value and the dominant force in global AI chip production. NVIDIA’s GPUs—especially the Jetson series—have become the brains behind many autonomous drones. Despite international sanctions, Russian forces have managed to acquire these chips through smuggling and third-party countries. In 2023, Russian Lancet attack drones, each weighing 35 pounds and boasting a 25-mile range, were found to contain NVIDIA Jetson TX2 modules. These chips enable the Lancet to lock onto targets, track them, and strike even if radio contact is lost. While early versions sometimes missed—hitting shadows rather than intended targets—software upgrades have dramatically improved their performance. By 2024, automated guidance accounted for about 30% of Lancet hits; that figure has now climbed to nearly 60%.

The technological leap doesn’t stop there. Two new Russian drones, including a modified Shahed variant (MS001) and the compact V2U, now feature the more powerful NVIDIA Jetson Orin. The MS001 combines thermal imaging, digital modems, and AI for ground target identification and attack, while the V2U uses terrain comparison navigation—much like the U.S. Tomahawk cruise missile—and can coordinate in teams using color-coded markings. According to Ukrainian electronics expert Serhii Flash, these drones exhibit basic swarming behavior, with each drone waiting its turn to strike in sequence. However, their intelligence remains limited; one V2U reportedly attacked a public toilet instead of a vehicle.

The third new Russian drone, Tyuvik (“Levant sparrowhawk”), is reportedly in mass production and designed to hunt moving armored vehicles using machine vision. All evidence suggests these drones are powered by off-the-shelf NVIDIA Jetson Orin modules, as Russia lacks the capacity to manufacture suitable AI hardware domestically. This rapid adoption of commercial AI technology is echoed on the Ukrainian side as well, with shipments of open-source AI drone systems like Auterion Skynode arriving in large numbers.

The implications are profound. As the software underpinning navigation, targeting, and even swarming improves, upgrades can be shared across entire drone fleets. The genie is out of the bottle: soon, "dumb" drones lacking onboard AI may be as obsolete as biplanes, and the small, intelligent drones dominating today’s battlefields will only become more formidable.

For now, the skies over Ukraine are a laboratory for the future of warfare—one where international partnerships, commercial innovation, and the relentless drive for battlefield advantage collide. Every new drone, every software update, and every AI breakthrough is a reminder that the rules of war are being rewritten in real time.