The war in Ukraine is now being fought primarily using drones. The weapons are responsible for 60 to 60 percent of all casualties. Militaries and armed groups around the world have been looking at the emerging tactics in Ukraine and preparing for conflicts that could be decided by drones.

Drones have become a pivotal force in modern conflicts, offering affordable and effective means of combat to both established militaries and non-state groups. In Ukraine, drones have allowed Ukrainian forces to challenge and harass Russia's Black Sea fleet despite lacking a conventional navy. Other countries, including China and Turkey, are rapidly advancing their drone capabilities, deploying various models for tactical and strategic missions.

The accessibility of drones has also empowered non-state actors. In Sudan, paramilitary groups have used drones to strike distant targets, while Syrian rebels have achieved battlefield air superiority using similar tactics. Analysts note that drones are leveling the playing field in conflicts where opposing sides have unequal resources, fundamentally altering the nature of warfare.

How drones are transforming wars from Ukraine to Sudan

Drones. Cheap, deadly and plentiful are revolutionising warfare and redefining battlefields. And nowhere is this more evident than in Russia's war in Ukraine. The Russians have a Black Sea fleet, a rather sizable. Ukrainians don't have any fleet at all. But the Ukrainians swept the Russians off the Black Sea. The Russian fleet retreated to the Caucasian shoreline and was harassed by Ukrainian sea drones. Countries are scrambling to incorporate drones at every level. China, with one of the largest militaries in the world, is working hard to make the best use of the new technology. From tactical squads with their own explosive drones, to motherships that transport swarms of drones that are then released over the target, to high-end long-range naval drones launched from aircraft carriers. Other countries are catching up quickly. Turkey has begun to field its own stealth drone, the Kilil Zelma. While it's a Ginchy, a high-altitude long-range combat vehicle has been sold to states around the world. The relatively low cost of some drones has allowed non-state armed groups to use them to great effect. In Sudan, the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group battling the army for control, has no air force. And yet it was able to successfully hit targets in Port Sudan, hundreds of kilometers away, using armed drones. Syrian rebels advancing on Damascus late last year also notched up successes. The use of Ukrainian tactics in Syria totally changed the situation. The Syrian rebels didn't have an air force, actually achieved air superiority on the battlefield. And on the other side, the Assad forces had an air force, and had the Russians as their air force allies, and failed. Analysts say drones are levelling the battlefield where rivals are unequally matched. It is logical. You exploit the asymmetry of your adversary by whatever means. And Ukraine is much less restricted than, say, Western forces. But any sort of non-state actor, the Houthis, for instance, they will look for any way to exploit asymmetries. Drones are changing the nature of conflict, forging new tactics in ways that have only just begun to make themselves felt. Alex Skotopoulos, Al Jazeera.

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