A wave of latest applied sciences are altering navy ways, as synthetic intelligence and robotics ship a flurry of improvements to the battlefield. On the middle of those adjustments are the proliferation of small, comparatively low cost drones, or UAVs, which have inflicted incalculable injury in battle zones like Ukraine. Combatting these new weapons programs has been tough, due largely to each the dimensions of the assaults and the disproportionate prices of defending towards them.
Much like mass aerial bombings in World Battle II, the impression of those bombardments have expanded past navy targets, inflicting devasting injury on civilians and demanding infrastructure. As an example, drones now inflict nearly all of the casualties on either side of the Russo-Ukrainian battle. Though Ukraine has deployed drones to search out success towards a rival whose navy finances was 10x bigger than its personal earlier than the battle, their proliferation has additionally positioned civilians within the cross hairs. Increasing the geographic scope of UAV assaults has firmly positioned Ukrainian cities, hospitals, and public infrastructure — positioned far past the battlefront — within the line of fireplace. Heading off these assaults has confirmed difficult.
Worldwide, militaries are creating new methods to fend off drones, starting from the UK’s ship-mounted DragonFire laser beams to China’s anti-drone microwave weapon. Up to now, nonetheless, none have developed a catch-all answer, significantly in civilian-heavy areas. So, Ukraine and Russia have gone analog to foil the damaging expertise, deploying nets to ensnare enemy drones. Suspended over roads, hospitals, navy autos, and demanding infrastructure, the transformed fishing nets are a back-to-basics second for international militaries.
Utilizing nets to catch drones
Over the previous few years, Russia has launched drones focusing on Ukrainian provide traces, electrical energy infrastructure, and convoys. The expanded use of first-person view drones has been correlated with elevated civilian casualties. In line with the United Nations, civilian casualties from short-range drone strikes elevated by 120% in 2025.
To keep off the incursions, Ukraine has begun erecting large repurposed fishing nets to ensnare explosive-laden assault drones. Laced between poles to kind tunnels, Ukraine has positioned these constructions round public roads, bridges, medical camps, hospitals, and different key infrastructure initiatives. In Kherson, a frontline metropolis that has felt the brunt of those assaults, they’ve grow to be important for preserving what locals name the “roads of life”, connecting the besieged metropolis to the remainder of the nation. Thus far, Ukraine has coated a whole lot of miles of roads with such netting.
Ukraine’s provide of fishing nets is essentially sourced from Europe, the place fishermen in nations like France, Denmark, and Norway have contributed 1000’s of tons of netting. Within the Netherlands, farmers have donated light-weight polyethylene nets, used to cowl tulip bulbs, that may disrupt small UAVs. Fishing nets, significantly these fabricated from strengthened horsehair for trawling the seabed, are able to catching bigger drones like Russia’s Lancet, which might ship over 5 kilos of explosives at greater than 90 mph.
Easy answer for a tough downside
Ukraine’s use of nets underscore broader points underpinning drone warfare. Typically launched in swarms, UAVs are tough to defend towards with with artillery. Exacerbating the problem is that kinetic defenses are extraordinarily pricey in comparison with the drones they get rid of. As an example, Russia’s Iran-made Shahed drones value round $35,000, whereas U.S.-made Patriot missiles, a staple of Ukraine’s air defenses, value $4 million and anti-drone Hellfire missiles are about $200,000. Dwindling ammunition provides can compound the issue, limiting their utilization to pick targets.
These limitations might be lethal in areas like Kherson, which sees roughly 2,500 assaults each week. Nets, in the meantime, are a low-cost choice able to extending safety all through a area and are higher suited to densely populated areas, as they decrease the chance of collateral injury from falling particles. Different technique of protection, like sign jamming, current technical points. Jamming, which downs drones by disrupting radio frequencies, may disrupt native communications programs. In the meantime, electromagnetic pulse and high-power microwave expertise may cause extreme injury to vitality grids and infrastructure.
These considerations are amplified by the event of latest UAVs, reminiscent of Russia’s jet-powered drone that’s proof against digital warfare. Given the unpredictability, geographic vary, and prices of Russian drone assaults, Ukraine has needed to formulate an environment friendly technique of defending giant swaths of city and rural areas. The seemingly easy method of fishing nets, and the worldwide effort buoying it, is likely one of the many unbelievable tales to come back out of the battle.
