Conceptual Study on Swarm Tactical Engagement between Military Drones

In modern battlefields, swarm drones are emerging as an asymmetric force due to their low cost and potential for mass deployment. While previous research has primarily focused on swarm operation concepts for offensive drones or the responses of traditional defense systems such as electronic warfare, lasers and CIWS, there is a noticeable lack of studies addressing tactical engagements between offensive and defensive drone swarms. This paper aims to establish a conceptual framework for drone-on-drone tactical engagements and compares key offensive and defensive tactics through scenario-based analysis. The result of analysis reveals that defensive drone swarms significantly improve their effectiveness when employing collective tactics rather than simple individual interceptions. This study presents foundational concepts for drone-on-drone tactical engagements and suggests that such tactics could become a key means of achieving deterrence and cost-effectiveness on future battlefields, providing a basis for further simulation-based research.