Challenges to national defence in contemporary geopolitical situation

Remote warfare is a phenomenon that has been significantly manifested over the course of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. In this new type of modern warfare, military remote systems, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), are becoming increasingly relevant. One of the key prerequisites for the flawless use of remote systems is trust in them. Despite the rapid development of such systems, there is still a lack of empirical research examining operators' trust in these systems, resulting in limited evidence on this phenomenon. This article presents the key findings of the study aiming at identifying the main factors that shape soldiers’ trust in UAV systems in the Lithuanian Armed Forces (LAF).

This paper examines the compression of the artillery kill chain in a UAS-saturated battlefield, using the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict (2020) as an empirical case. Based on OSINT analysis, the kill chain is decomposed into measurable phases and their temporal intervals estimated. Results indicate a total duration of 60–120 seconds, making time a dominant tactical constraint. The findings highlight implications for artillery tactics, simulation models, and officer education within Joint Fire Support and Multi-Domain Operations. The study provides a transparent framework linking empirical observations with operational practice.

This paper analyzes one-way attack UAV saturation and air defense adaptation using open-source attack data recorded by Shahed-136/131 UAVs in Ukraine. Descriptive statistics, correlation, regression, and non-parametric tests indicate rapid growth in UAV volume, partial saturation effects, and a clear distinction between kinetic destruction and broader neutralization. The study contributes a measurable counter-UAS assessment model that links attack volume, defensive performance, and small-state air defense planning.