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Survival within the frontlines of Ukraine, a lethal and inhospitable landscape estimated to be between 30 kilometres and 60 kilometres deep, has been made difficult, if not impossible.

Drone technology has turned the area into a zone of absolute denial, where the slightest movement is immediately detected by drones and met by precision drone strikes or artillery fire.

Off-the-shelf drone technology has transformed ‘ability to deny’

“The Ukrainians have proved that the concept of ‘deep zone denial’ is highly effective,” explains Alexandra Bailey, Head of Defence, Fujitsu UK. “What’s more, the price of that denial is extremely cheap, because it can be achieved with easily available, consumer-grade, off-the-shelf drone technology.”

Yet this advantage can be pressed further. Currently, the drones monitoring this zone are mostly First Person View (FPV), piloted by a single operator. She believes that, soon, these separate drones will start interacting with each other, sharing data and intelligence in real time.

However, in this interconnected future, centralised digital infrastructure can be a liability at the tactical edge.

“If decision-making is made via a single node or communication is via a single bearer, it creates an exceptional point of fragility,” says Bailey. “If it’s disrupted, it would prove catastrophic for the whole system because everything would fail.”

Distributed edge computing enables tempo — not just resilience

Edge computing reduces or eliminates this risk with a distributed architecture that processes data closer to its source. Apart from being more resilient, it offers greater speed, reduces latency and enables faster decision-making.

For innovation to thrive, the relationship between the Ministry of Defence and its supply base needs to evolve. The agility and innovation by SMEs remain a vital battlefield advantage. However, realising the full benefits of autonomy will also require a balance of the dynamic, diverse supply base on one end and a common architecture on the other.

“We must invest in collaboration and innovation with digital partners, elevating relationships from tactical, contractual arrangements to true strategic partnerships focused on innovation and pace,” concludes Bailey.

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This article contains paid for content provided by Fujitsu.