Are Tanks Obsolete in the Age of Drone Warfare?

The war in Ukraine has challenged the traditional role of the tank. Low-cost FPV drones have destroyed or damaged expensive armored vehicles, forcing crews to adopt improvised protection and changing how tanks operate. Some Ukrainian units have reportedly reduced their use of Abrams tanks because of the growing drone threat. Yet battlefield experience suggests that tanks may be evolving rather than disappearing.

The account focuses on Ukraine’s 425th Assault Regiment and its use of Australian-supplied Abrams tanks near Pokrovsk. In one reported tactic, a tank was deliberately exposed to attract Russian drone operators, drawing attention away from advancing infantry. Another crew reportedly survived more than 20 drone strikes, with additional protection provided by rubber strips, wire and a foldable cage.

The report also examines Russia’s Arena-M active protection system, designed to intercept incoming threats. However, coordinated attacks involving multiple drones could overwhelm such defenses, reportedly requiring 15 to 20 drones to challenge the system.

The broader lesson is that drones have made armored operations far more dangerous, but they have not eliminated the need for protected mobility and heavy firepower. Tanks may no longer dominate the battlefield as they once did, yet infantry still needs platforms capable of supporting advances across exposed terrain. The challenge is adapting armored warfare to a battlefield increasingly shaped by unmanned systems.