Ukraine’s Operation Spider Web took Russia by surprise on Sunday. The attack destroyed nearly one-third of Russia’s long-range strategic bombers. Surprisingly, Ukraine used old, open-source drone software to carry out the mission.
Strikes Land Deep Inside Russia
First, explosions rocked three Russian airbases — Belaya, Olenya, and Ivanovo. These locations are far from the Ukrainian border. Yet, Ukraine executed the operation in broad daylight. It used ArduPilot, a drone autopilot software developed almost 20 years ago.
According to reports, this mission took over a year to plan. Nevertheless, it became one of the boldest and most technical attacks in modern warfare.
Creator Shocked by Software’s Use
Meanwhile, Chris Anderson, who created ArduPilot, expressed shock. He commented on LinkedIn, “That’s ArduPilot, launched from my basement 18 years ago.”
Later, he posted about the attack on X (formerly Twitter). He also tagged his co-creators, Jordi Muñoz and Jason Short. In response, Short said, “Not in a million years would I have predicted this outcome. I just wanted to make flying robots. Ardupilot-powered drones just took out half the Russian strategic bomber fleet.”
From Basement Project to Global Use
Originally, Anderson built the software in 2007. At that time, he used a Lego Mindstorms kit and launched a website called DIYdrones.com. This site attracted drone hobbyists and became a hub for UAV enthusiasts.
Over time, Anderson and Muñoz started a drone company named 3DR. They officially released ArduPilot software in 2009. Despite its growth, the software remained free and open for anyone to use or adapt.
ArduPilot Becomes Widely Trusted
Today, ArduPilot supports many types of vehicles. These include quadcopters, helicopters, fixed-wing drones, boats, submarines, and even land rovers.
According to its official website, “ArduPilot is a trusted, versatile, and open source autopilot system supporting many vehicle types: multi-copters, traditional helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, boats, submarines, rovers, and more. The source code is developed by a large community of professionals and enthusiasts. New developers are always welcome!”
Interestingly, website data from 2023 showed high traffic from both Ukraine and Russia. Since the war began, both countries have relied heavily on the software.
A Hobby Changed Warfare
In conclusion, a tool created in a basement now plays a role in modern combat. What began as a hobby project has helped Ukraine strike deep into Russian territory. The future of warfare may rest in the hands of open-source developers.
