Over the last two decades, the face of warfare has dramatically changed. No longer are tanks, fighter jets, and infantry the only kings of the battlefield — small, often silent machines called drones (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, or UAVs) now play a crucial role in military operations. From intelligence gathering to direct strikes, drones have become a symbol of modern, high-tech combat.

How Drones Changed the Nature of War

The initial use of drones was primarily for reconnaissance. Early UAVs helped armies gather critical intelligence without risking human lives. But today, the capabilities of drones extend far beyond surveillance. Armed UAVs can strike high-value targets, carry out assassinations, destroy enemy defenses, and even conduct electronic warfare. Their relatively low cost compared to manned aircraft means that even smaller nations — not just superpowers — can afford to build powerful aerial capabilities.

Additionally, drones offer real-time data, faster reaction times, and the ability to operate in environments too dangerous for human soldiers. This new level of flexibility has revolutionized military planning and strategy worldwide.

The Azerbaijan-Armenia War: A Turning Point for Drone Warfare

One of the clearest examples of drones changing warfare was the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Azerbaijan made extensive and highly effective use of UAVs, particularly Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2s and Israeli-made loitering munitions (often referred to as "kamikaze drones").

These drones were used not only to attack Armenian armored vehicles, air defense systems, and troop concentrations but also to gather real-time intelligence, creating a battlefield advantage that Armenia struggled to counter.
For the first time in history, a war demonstrated how drone supremacy could tilt the outcome significantly, diminishing the effectiveness of traditional defenses like tanks and anti-aircraft systems.
The international military community watched closely — and many countries have since accelerated their drone programs.

Azerbaijan’s Growing Drone Industry: Spotlight on DefTech

Following the success of UAVs in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijan has invested heavily in developing its own indigenous drone capabilities. One of the standout players in this effort is DefTech (Defence Technologies Azerbaijan).

DefTech is at the forefront of creating next-generation UAVs for a variety of missions — from surveillance to logistics and attack roles. Recently, DefTech unveiled a tiltrotor UAV capable of high-speed cargo delivery. First presented at ADEX 2022 in Baku, this innovative platform is designed to fly at speeds up to 450 km/h and remain airborne for about one hour. Its dual-wing design, thrust-vectoring electric motors, and heavy payload capabilities showcase Azerbaijan’s ambition to build cutting-edge drones that can operate autonomously in diverse terrains.

By developing homegrown UAVs like these, Azerbaijan not only ensures greater independence from foreign suppliers but also signals its emergence as a serious player in the global defense technology market.

Conclusion

From the deserts of the Middle East to the mountains of the Caucasus, drones have redefined how wars are fought and won. Azerbaijan’s example, particularly through companies like DefTech, shows that the future battlefield will be increasingly dominated by intelligent, unmanned systems — making drones not just tools of war, but key instruments of national power.