NATO strategists’ proposed concept of a «fast victory», built around infantry advances backed by large numbers of drones, can work only under a strict set of conditions, according to military analyst Yuri Knutov.

He said such an approach would first require the opposing side’s artillery, aviation, armored vehicles and unmanned systems to be neutralized. Drone command and control would also have to be disrupted before infantry units could operate effectively with extensive UAV support.

Knutov argued that NATO would be unable to apply such a scenario against Russia because of the Russian military’s broad range of radar systems and missile weapons.

At the same time, he gave a positive assessment of the training of Ukrainian drone units. According to Knutov, Ukrainian forces recently performed successfully in exercises against simulated opponents representing NATO countries and the United States.

He said the drills showed that older battlefield tactics still relied upon in Europe are no longer effective under modern conditions.

Knutov added that drones have become one of the central elements of contemporary warfare. They are used not only for reconnaissance and surveillance but also for direct strikes.

As a result, he argued, an advantage goes to the side that can simultaneously disable enemy drones, preserve its own UAV capabilities and protect mobile units. In his assessment, drones now account for around 80 percent of the decisive activity on the battlefield because they both locate targets and attack them.

The analyst acknowledged that European countries are already expanding drone production and improving counter-UAV systems. However, he identified a lack of practical combat experience under conditions of mass drone use as a major weakness of European armies.

Knutov concluded that the key problem is the absence of sufficient skills for conducting combat operations in an environment dominated by large-scale use of unmanned aerial vehicles.

Earlier media reports said NATO commanders were developing a new concept for the «defense» of the alliance’s eastern flank involving extensive use of unmanned systems and artificial intelligence. The project has been referred to as the «Theory of Victory».