• superniceperson@sh.itjust.works
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    16 days ago

    That really remains to be seen, and it depends on your objective. Drones can do the precision ops bombs can’t that used to be reserved by troops. Really there’s not a lot of reason to waste hundreds of thousands per soldier when most of not all objectives can be handled without near human presence.

    • jaschen@lemm.ee
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      16 days ago

      Depends on the objective. Invading a country? Drones is nothing more than a cheap air coverage.

      You can send a zillion drones into battle, but the country isn’t yours until you have boots on the ground and setup a foothold on the land you want to claim.

      • superniceperson@sh.itjust.works
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        16 days ago

        I’m pretty sure being able to kill anyone that dissents at any time in any situation overcomes the need for boots on the ground even in an invasion or complete takeover scenario – and drone warfare has reached that stage.

        • nilclass@discuss.tchncs.de
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          16 days ago

          Jamming radio is pretty basic, and then the drones are useless. Unless the operator is close enough so the drone can be controlled by a cable, or visual signals

        • jaschen@lemm.ee
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          16 days ago

          Drones can’t establish a new base on captured land. Boots are the only ones that can.

          • superniceperson@sh.itjust.works
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            16 days ago

            You don’t really need that, you need control of an area. That’s why you put a base down. Drones can control an area without said base.

          • Halosheep@lemm.ee
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            15 days ago

            You’re thinking too small.

            Small combat drone comes in, clears the area of The Enemy™ (results may vary, consult your user manual for assistance). Then, the large, base establishment drones enter and set up base operations, of course fully operated remotely. Repair and maintenance drones then enter the scene to ensure full operation.