The Wall Street Journal website recently published an article titled "Once Dominant Tanks Are Declining on the Battlefield," written by Alistair MacDonald. Although tanks have helped Ukraine advance towards Russia, the military is rethinking how to manufacture and deploy such powerful vehicles, as tanks have been performing poorly in recent battles. Tanks were once the king of the land battlefield, but the proliferation of drones in Ukraine means that these noisy large vehicles can be spotted and targeted within minutes. Dozens of advanced Western tanks were not utilized much in the battles they were supposed to perform, while other tanks were damaged, destroyed, or captured by opponents. In response to the challenges faced by tanks, the military is adding technology to tanks to detect and defend against drones, while also considering modifying tank designs to make these heavy armored vehicles more maneuverable. The battlefield tactics have changed, and the lessons learned from Ukraine are gradually being adopted. General James Rennie, who leads the Future Command of the United States Army, said, "In the short term, we urgently need to make some adjustments to maintain the survivability of our armored formations." The command is responsible for researching methods to equip and transform the Army. This reflection is another sign of drones reshaping warfare. If Western armies want to maintain their advantage in conventional warfare, adapting tanks to the era of drones is crucial. For decades, some Western armies have placed tanks at the core of their land strategies. In the past, tanks have also been modified to adapt to new opponents such as aircraft and anti tank missiles. Last year, when members of Ukraine's 47th Mechanized Brigade learned that they would receive the "Abrams" tank, they hoped that this American machine would enable them to ultimately break through Russia's defenses. The "Antelope" website, which tracks losses in conflict areas, stated that out of the 31 Abrams tanks sent by the United States to Ukraine, 6 have been destroyed, while the rest are rarely used. According to the "Antelope" website, among the other Western tanks sent to Ukraine, 12 out of 18 newer German made Panther tanks have been destroyed or damaged. Analysts say that Russian tanks have also suffered serious losses. A Ukrainian pilot of an Abrams tank said, 'As soon as you hit the road, drones will see you, and then you will be attacked by artillery, landmines, anti tank missiles, drones, and guided bombs.' Tanks are more vulnerable to drone attacks than other armored vehicles because they are bulky and have large rotating turrets with weak armor at the top. Tank cannons are also not suitable for shooting down drones, and tanks typically only carry 30 to 40 rounds of ammunition. Drones represent a new threat. It is cheaper than traditional opponents of tanks, such as airplanes or anti tank missiles. Unmanned reconnaissance aircraft can enable these old opponents to better target tank formations. A commander of a Finnish armored brigade said that the rise of drones has made training more focused on the necessity of continuous movement. He said, 'You can't leave battle tanks in open areas for a moment. As long as you stop moving, you must hide under trees and find cover.' Assistant Secretary of the Army for Procurement, Logistics, and Technology, Doug Bush, said that people are still working to make tanks harder to detect, including changing the way tanks are painted and reducing their electronic markings. Saab Group in Sweden said it has found people interested in a camouflage net it provides, which can wrap all parts of the tank, making them difficult to detect and partially masking the heat emitted by the tank. The United States and its allies are also adding new countermeasures to many of their tanks, including Israel's "Iron Fist" system - which fires small explosive ordnance when it detects airborne threats. Shortly after the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Poland agreed to buy hundreds of South Korean K2 tanks. A few months later, the Poles added new requirements, including adding equipment to interfere with drones. This type of equipment is becoming an essential part of tanks. (New Society)