FPV drones as a “revolution in military affairs”: Major General Jacob Benjo warns armies

In the view of Israeli Major General Jacob Benjo, first-person view (FPV) drones are neither a new approach nor a new weapon. Rather, in a recently published analysis, he describes FPV drones as a “revolution in military affairs”.

Benjo is a senior researcher in the research team of the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies in Ramat Can. He sees a fundamental change in land warfare and asks whether the generals of the NATO alliance have already grasped how far-reaching the changes on the battlefield are.

According to the analysis, this war is currently being waged only by Russia and Ukraine (-> latest reports from the war in Ukraine). The expert writes: “What they have already forgotten, we have not yet learned.” His warning: “Whoever goes into the next war without implementing the FPV revolution will lose by knockout, not on points.”

Because FPV drones now have long ranges, a combat zone 40 kilometres deep has emerged around the front line, according to Benjo. Anyone who stays in the open there for longer than 15 minutes runs a high risk of being attacked and killed by an FPV drone.

Why FPV drones are changing combat

In the author's assessment, the large area of operations results in considerable tactical advantages. For him, the strengths of the FPV drone lie in its high accuracy, in real-time information from the battlefield and in its ability to carry out specific tasks. Added to this are high manoeuvrability and – thanks to fibre-optic technology – now also immunity to electronic warfare.

If troops concentrate, they are destroyed immediately; the attacker must therefore advance with “weak forces”. Defenders likewise have to spread out over large areas, with a considerable share accounted for by decoys and unmanned positions.

“A tank is forced to keep moving, otherwise it will be destroyed.”
Major General Jacob Benjo

Benjo also examines the financial cost of FPV warfare. He puts a drone at around 500 euros; because every fifth one hits, a strike comes to 2,500 euros. Even a simple 155-millimetre shell costs more, a Spike NLOS missile costs around 20,000 euros and a Hellfire missile as much as 50,000 euros.

Several existing systems have been replaced by FPV, he writes. Because of FPV, all attack and transport helicopters have disappeared from the front. At low altitude, air forces are no longer able to secure air superiority for their ground troops. The FPV drone combines reconnaissance and effect in a single means.

Benjo also warns of barriers in how armies perceive the situation: their structure makes it difficult for them to grasp the overall picture. In addition, they lack an understanding of what quantity achieves. “A million FPV drones sounds like an imaginary number, although they are actually being produced separately in Russia and Ukraine (and without Chinese help).”

One only has to imagine the effect that 10,000 FPV drones would have in a synchronised attack to a depth of 10 kilometres. There is still no effective defence against this, according to Benjo.

All in all, for the general, the rules of the game on the modern battlefield have changed: “If FPV is implemented with a systemic approach, enormous difficulties arise. Most armies have not even solved the problem of anti-tank missiles yet. They now face the difficulty of having to solve both problems at the same time.”

About the author

Major General Jacob Benjo has been working as a senior researcher in the research team of the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies since July 2024. He previously headed the IDF Planning Directorate. His 34-year military career included postings above all in the Armoured Corps and on the General Staff.

His expertise lies in force building and the employment of military power, from the tactical to the strategic level.