A NATO transformation official outlines how space, cyber, electronic warfare and autonomous systems are reshaping frontline operations. He warns Ukraine must stay two steps ahead of Russian adaptation.
Technologies – space systems, electronic warfare, the cyber domain, autonomous developments, and integration of artificial intelligence – form a real advantage for the Armed Forces of Ukraine in confronting Russia, which has a powerful industrial base and a developed research and development infrastructure.
In an interview with Ukrainian Radio, Major General Kostyantyn-Adrian Cholponya, representative of NATO’s Allied Command Transformation, outlined the main trends.
“Today technologies are developing very quickly. Especially in Ukraine and on the front line. It is not only about autonomous systems, which are very important for saving forces and resources in this long war of attrition. But also about the integration of artificial intelligence for the management of command-and-control systems. You also have an important component in how the battlefield is saturated with EW means, in particular jamming. All this forms what we in NATO’s Allied Command Transformation call the effects of multidomain operations”
Key technological directions and their impact
According to experts, space technologies are critical for command, control, and target designation, as well as for detecting enemy movements and critical facilities.
“I would start exactly with space technologies, which today are developing very rapidly across all allied European countries. This is the first stage. The second is autonomous systems, and not only in the air but also on land and at sea. We call this a ‘family’ of drones – the underwater unmanned systems. Drones provide the necessary saturation and temporary local advantage where it is needed by the troops. They can balance mechanized superiority, naval power, and air power. This is extremely important for Ukrainian forces, as they face a large army with enormous resources and logistics. In all three domains – maritime, air, and land – Russia has a numerical advantage. And, as we see, the Russians do not pay much attention to losses. Their level of attrition is at its maximum. But the leadership does not mind throwing soldiers into the meat grinder of war. This leads us to the human factor. That is why autonomous systems can replace part of the people on the battlefield to perform various tasks. In the long term, this allows saving many Ukrainian soldiers’ lives. Additionally, you can achieve important tactical, operational, and strategic goals by employing these strike assets at long distances”
“Russians restore their capabilities very quickly. They copy the Ukrainians’ solutions literally the next day or within a month. That is why the Ukrainian forces must constantly stay two steps ahead of the Russian reaction”
– Kostyantyn-Adrian Cholponya
According to the 2025 results, Ukraine’s defense sector is valued at about $6.8 billion, with a lead in unmanned aerial systems according to the Kyiv Security Forum.
In summary, modern technologies define the future nature of defense actions: saving lives, increasing efficiency, and reducing dependence on human resources in the long fight, which is critically important for Ukraine even against a powerful opponent.