Note: I just realized that I accidentally uploaded the YouTube version of this video with an ad as opposed to the correct Substack video. For that I am sorry. I will put out another video soon that corrects this. I know you payed subscribers and not pay to watch an ad.
Are military snipers becoming obsolete in the age of drones?
A Wall Street Journal article (Paywall) recently asked whether drones are putting snipers out of a job. The answer is more complicated than you think.
In this video, I break down how FPV drones, thermal imaging, electronic warfare, and modern kill chains are changing the battlefield in Ukraine — and why the traditional image of the sniper crawling through the grass with a bolt-action rifle may already be outdated.
We’ll also talk about:
• Why drones are replacing some sniper missions
• Why snipers are still incredibly valuable
• The Marine Corps decision to eliminate Scout Sniper platoons
• Thermal cameras and the death of concealment
• Why “you can’t surge expertise”
• Pattern-of-life intelligence and reconnaissance
• Why human snipers are still harder to jam than drones
• The future of the sniper in modern warfare
The battlefield is evolving fast. The militaries that adapt will survive. The ones that don’t may find their hide sites already being watched by a $900 drone with a thermal camera.
