AFSOC Pilot Explains How Ukrainian Drones are Changing Warfare Forever | SME 003

Former Air Force special operations pilot, war correspondent, and current drone-warfare expert Nolan Peterson joined Marty Skovlund Jr. to explain how Ukraine’s drone war reshaped the modern battlefield—from FPV drones and electronic warfare to the operator tradecraft that exploits wind, terrain, and “radio shadows.” He walked Marty through how naval drones (USVs) helped push Russia’s Black Sea Fleet away from Crimea, protected grain routes near Odesa, and even contributed to reports of Russian troops surrendering to drones.Nolan also covered lessons for the U.S.: why counter-UAS can’t just live on bases, why civilian infrastructure (airports, power plants) need micro-layered defenses, and why some sites require non-kinetic options that won’t disrupt aviation or comms. Plus, Nolan shared his field notes on China and Tibet from India’s border, his Himalaya trek, meeting the Dalai Lama, and why drones + AI are the big unknown right now.Note: This episode drops in the wake of the Pentagon’s newly announced Joint Interagency Task Force 401, which aims to accelerate counter-drone (C-UAS) capabilities.You can follow Nolan on X.New here? Welcome to Subject Matter Expert, hosted by Marty Skovlund Jr., featuring top experts across diverse and relevant fields without regard to political bias. If you're looking for an echo chamber, this isn't it! In each episode, Marty dives deep into high-impact topics with guests who have been there, done that, offering nuanced insights and practical takeaways, while highlighting their unique stories, knowledge, and experiences.Subscribe & FollowSubscribe to ⁠Subject Matter Expert on YouTube⁠Subscribe to ⁠Subject Matter Expert Clips on YouTube⁠Follow ⁠Subject Matter Expert on Instagram⁠Follow ⁠Marty on Instagram⁠Buy Marty's Books⁠Send Me: The True Story of a Mother at War⁠⁠Violence of Action: The True Stories of the 75th Ranger Regiment in the War on Terror⁠