Peter Fortune MP secured a debate on the use of drones in defence in Parliament today. He called on the Government to learn the lessons from the war in Ukraine by ensuring Britain supports an innovative ecosystem of drone companies, equips and trains the UK armed forces for mass drone warfare, and develops ways to counter them.
Speaking in Westminster Hall, Peter said: "The slow evolution of drones is now fast revolutionising warfare. Their mass use has transformed combat in Ukraine, on the land, in the air and at sea, with cheap kamikaze drones causing immense damage. Staggeringly, up to 80% of Russian and Ukrainian casualties are due to drones. They have transformed combat on the frontline.
"The pace of change is unbelievably fast, but the direction is clear: drone warfare is the future, and Britain must be the leader in the development, testing and mass deployment of drones.
"That means three things. First, we must develop an ecosystem of private enterprises that can innovate, test and build drone models — big and small, sophisticated and simple — at a larger scale.
"Secondly, if the UK procures many new drones, we will be able to start training our forces and learning the lessons from Ukraine.
"Finally, and in equal measure, we need to look at how the armed forces can counter drones—what we can do to fight them off."
"Drones will not make infantry, artillery, ships or aircraft obsolete; they are a new tool that will help to transform warfare. They must be an integral part of our efforts to strengthen the UK’s armed forces and face down the threats our country now faces."
