WireMarch 28, 2026 at 10:00 AM
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The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has underscored the strategic importance of low-cost weaponry in modern warfare, revealing that the value lies not just in affordability but in the operational advantages it provides. Retired Air Marshal Greg Bagwell, a former joint warfare director of the UK Royal Air Force, emphasized that mass-produced, inexpensive weapons enable militaries to sustain losses, overwhelm enemy defenses, and create gaps in adversary systems.
'We don't go for mass because it's cheap,' Bagwell said. 'It enables mass, which produces operational effects.'
Cheap weaponry, such as quadcopter drones, often has lower precision and effectiveness, necessitating larger quantities to achieve objectives. However, these weapons can be acquired in vast numbers for the cost of a few high-end systems. This mass allows militaries to absorb failures and losses while maintaining pressure on enemy forces.
For decades, Western militaries have prioritized smaller quantities of advanced, precision systems. However, Ukraine's experience against Russia has forced a reevaluation of this strategy. Both sides are depleting weapon inventories rapidly, relying heavily on low-cost drones and other inexpensive armaments.
Troels Lund Poulsen, Denmark's defense minister, noted that the war has highlighted the need for greater quantities of low-cost weaponry to sustain high-intensity conflicts. Serhiy Goncharov, CEO of Ukraine's National Association of Defense Industries, echoed this sentiment, advocating for mass-produced systems like Ukraine's Bohdana howitzer over fewer, highly advanced systems like Sweden's Archer artillery.
The lessons from Ukraine are reshaping defense strategies, emphasizing cost, volume, and effectiveness as critical factors in preparing for future conflicts.