Contributor Notes

Peter Savage is a military veteran, electronics specialist, and humanitarian chaplain who has worked extensively in Ukraine since the full-scale Russian invasion of 2022. Drawing on a background that includes service within NATO-aligned forces and deep technical expertise in microprocessors and unmanned systems, Savage combines frontline observation with engineering analysis to document one of the most significant transformations in modern warfare.

In Transforming Hobby Drones for Warfare, he examines how commercially available hobby drones-once confined to recreational flying and aerial photography-have evolved into decisive tactical tools on contemporary battlefields. Blending firsthand experience from conflict zones such as Bucha, Kherson, Bakhmut, and the Donbas with detailed technical insight, Savage explores drone modification, battery technologies, AI integration, autonomous navigation, electronic warfare resilience, and anti-drone countermeasures.

As part of the broader Putin's Pathway series, his work bridges humanitarian witness, military history, and emerging technology. His writing offers readers a rare combination of ethical reflection and technical depth, examining not only how drone warfare works-but what it means for the future of conflict