Cheap, agile, and highly effective, drones are rapidly transforming the face of modern warfare, overturning decades-old combat doctrines and pushing once-elite battlefield roles—including snipers—toward the margins as unmanned systems dominate conflicts from Ukraine to the Middle East.
Reports by The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post suggest that drones are fundamentally reshaping modern warfare, steadily diminishing the role of traditional military assets such as snipers as low-cost, highly effective unmanned systems gain unprecedented influence on the battlefield.
In a report by Alistair MacDonald and Evgenia Sivorka, The Wall Street Journal points to the war in Ukraine as a defining example of this transformation.
The report notes that small, inexpensive drones — capable of carrying explosives or conducting highly precise reconnaissance missions — are increasingly outperforming snipers in surveillance and targeting operations. Their ability to remain airborne for extended periods, cover wider areas, and be replaced more easily than human personnel has given them a decisive operational advantage.
Ukraine’s Most Famous Sniper Stops Sniping
The newspaper quotes Vyacheslav Kovalski, a Ukrainian Special Operations Forces soldier once credited with what was described as a world-record sniper kill from nearly two and a half miles away, as saying his role has changed dramatically.
Kovalski said he has not participated in live-fire sniper operations for more than a year and a half and now works primarily in support of drone operators.
According to the report, he acknowledged the growing superiority of drones in both efficiency and cost-effectiveness, saying, “I used to be the sniper everyone gathered around. Now the drone operator is the center of attention—including for me.”
The remark reflects a broader shift in the hierarchy of combat roles within Ukrainian military units.
The newspaper added that snipers—long associated with modern warfare since World War I and World War II—are now playing a more limited role, despite remaining active in some military formations. The US military, for example, continues to train snipers while adapting its programs to account for the rapid spread of drone warfare.
This video shows footage from the Islamic Resistance's operation targeting a vehicle transporting “Israeli” enemy army soldiers in the vicinity of the Al-Abbad site at the southern Lebanese border with a loitering glider [FPV] https://t.co/o0xwtKBbs9 pic.twitter.com/bDKScmJAVD
— Al-Manar English (@manarenglish) May 14, 2026
Faster and More Effective
The Wall Street Journal reported that precision strikes once reliant on snipers or forward observers can now be carried out within minutes using drones that relay live intelligence directly to artillery units or launch immediate attacks themselves. The technology has drastically reduced the time between target detection and engagement.
According to the report, drones have also surpassed snipers in reconnaissance missions by providing a comprehensive aerial “bird’s-eye view” and overcoming battlefield obstacles with ease. Meanwhile, snipers face growing risks from advanced thermal-imaging systems capable of detecting body heat and exposing concealed positions.
The newspaper cited a Ukrainian officer, identified by the call sign “Ivanhoe,” as saying that in 2022 snipers were able to detect enemy movements from long distances and provide precise coordinates within minutes. Today, however, drone operators can identify and strike targets almost instantly.
The report added that Ukrainian snipers are still deployed in limited specialized missions, particularly in infantry support and counter-infiltration operations, but their battlefield role has become significantly narrower than in the early years of the war.
Even Tanks and Heavy Units Are Vulnerable
The Wall Street Journal noted that the war in Ukraine has exposed a broader transformation in modern combat, where tanks and heavy military units are no longer the only decisive force on the battlefield. Instead, they have become direct targets for small drones that are reshaping the balance of power in warfare.
In a separate report, Washington Post journalists Lior Soroka, Suzan Haidamous, and Mohammad Al-Shaamaa highlighted what they described as a growing threat facing Israel in southern Lebanon: suicide drones operated by Hezbollah.
According to the report, these drones are equipped with cameras and advanced communication technologies, including fiber-optic systems, enabling them to transmit live video feeds to operators while evading conventional jamming systems.
Hezbollah Drones Pose a New Threat to “Israel”
The Washington Post said the small, low-cost drones—which can be assembled using commercially available components—have helped armed groups rebuild military capabilities, despite restrictions imposed by recent conflicts on weapons supplies.
The newspaper quoted a Hezbollah official as saying the drones played a significant role in military operations, particularly amid growing reliance on domestic production and low-cost technologies. Israel, meanwhile, says it is developing new defensive systems to counter the threat.
The report added that “Israel” has already launched projects to develop its own offensive drones in an effort to keep pace with the rapid evolution of drone warfare. Israeli military sources acknowledged, however, that providing full protection against Hezbollah’s fiber-optic-guided drones remains extremely difficult.
#Hezbollah Military Media released footage showing the group's fighters manufacturing the iconic attack #drone—titled "Lebanon’s Industrial Pride"#Lebanon pic.twitter.com/ryFeORSMow
— Al-Manar English (@manarenglish) May 2, 2026
Reshaping the Nature of Modern Conflict
The newspaper also cited analysts at the Institute for National Security Studies as saying that while drones alone are unlikely to decisively alter the balance of war, they represent an increasingly complex and dangerous threat that conventional defense systems struggle to counter.
The Washington Post concluded that drones represent a new generation of low-cost, high-impact weapons capable of reshaping modern conflicts — from Ukraine to the Middle East — as traditional battlefield roles, including snipers, increasingly give way to unmanned technology.
Source: News Agencies (Translated and edited by Al-Manar)