SHIFTING PARADIGMS IN CONCEPT, ACTION, AND TRAINING: ADDRESSING THE PROLIFERATION OF UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS IN MODERN WARFARE

Abstract

This article argues that the integration of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) has fundamentally disrupted modern warfare, transitioning drones from strategic enablers to ubiquitous shooters. It traces this evolution through three operational epochs, culminating in Hyper-Warfare, characterized by extreme OODA loop compression and the Transparent Battlefield where concealment is obsolete. However, the text contends that a prevailing hardware-first procurement strategy has created a critical capability gap. While airframes have advanced, operator education remains stagnant, leading to cognitive saturation, vigilance decrement, and psychological burnout. The article proposes a strategic pivot to a Competency-Based Training model, outlining a three-tier educational hierarchy—Manual Proficiency, Systems Management, and Tactical Decision Making—to restore the human element as the decisive advantage in autonomous conflict.