BLUF: Operation ‘Spider Web’

Ukraine’s unexpected drone attack on airfields across five different regions in Russia this past Sunday represents just how much warfare has changed over the past few decades. Dubbed Operation Spiderweb, the attack aimed to cripple Russia’s long-range bomber capabilities, hindering its ability to strike deep inside Ukraine, and left many people asking: how did the Ukrainians pull this off?

If you don’t have any idea what we’re talking about, take two minutes to read this piece from the Wall Street Journal or this one from Reuters, you will not be disappointed. 

Tactically, the mission was a success. But the implications go far beyond the battlefield. Not only does this attack publicly humiliate Vladimir Putin, thereby increasing the odds of escalatory behavior from Russia, but it also broadly signals just how fast the lines between espionage, sabotage, and conventional warfare are blurring—and how easily asymmetric tactics can catch even major powers off guard.

For the U.S., this raises uncomfortable questions not about the war in Ukraine, which the President addressed his position on in the Oval today, but about our own defenses. While America's geographic isolation has long been considered a strategic asset, Sunday’s operation shows how creative adversaries can circumvent that obstacle. As an example, our ports and harbors, which facilitate trillions in annual trade, are potential pressure points. Imagine if China—or any hostile actor—used a cargo vessel to covertly deploy drones or other UAVs. The economic disruption alone could be enormous.

The lesson from Operation Spiderweb is clear: the future battlefield may not begin with missiles or troops, but with imagination and the element of surprise. For the U.S. and its allies, staying ahead will require not just better defenses, but a deeper understanding of how tomorrow’s conflicts might be fought.

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