94 Drones in Modern War

Introduction

The advent of drone technology has significantly transformed the landscape of modern warfare (Kreps & Lushenko, 2023). This technology has introduced a new dimension to how wars are fought, changing traditional warfare tactics and strategies. This chapter explores the evolution of drone use in war, its effectiveness, and the societal and ideological perspectives surrounding it. It also delves into the role of technology in modern warfare and provides examples of how drone technology is being utilized in current conflicts, such as the Russian-Ukrainian war.

The Evolution and Effectiveness of Drones

Drones have emerged as a crucial component in the arsenal of modern militaries. Kreps and Lushenko (2023) argue that drones have not revolutionized warfare but have certainly evolved it. Drones offer a unique blend of precision, surveillance capabilities, and reduced risk to human life, making them an attractive option for military operations. While this author demonstrates that the effectiveness of drones is still undecided, the conflict in Ukraine has shown the power that drones hold on the war.

During the time since the war started in Ukraine, advancements to the capabilities of drones have increased. Evolutions such as AI implementation, long rage communication and quick deployment capabilities have revolutionized the war. These improvements have made the use of drones in war much more prevalent.

Drones have evolved into two main methods. One is long-range strike drones that deliver strikes at long distances with high accuracy, and examples are the Bayraktar TB2 (Ukrainian) or the Shahed 136 (Russian). The other is short-range first-person view (FPV) drones for quick, short-range strikes. The tiny, inexpensive FPV (first-person view) drone has proved to be one of the most potent weapons in this war (Zafra, 2024). These two methods of drone strike have the same objective of destroying high-value targets with cheaper, quicker drones with large impact damage.

Societal and Ideological Perspectives

The use of drones in warfare also carries significant societal implications. Campbell (2022) discusses how ideological and religious perspectives shape society’s views on war. The introduction of drones into this complex matrix adds another layer of debate, particularly concerning the ethics of drone warfare and the value of human life in conflict. The author suggests that the advent of drone technology has significantly influenced the societal and ideological perspectives on war.

During the war in Ukraine, this ideology of ethics of drone warfare has come to the forefront of the conversation. The impact that drones are having on people is being called into question, and a deeper look into their impacts needs to be evaluated. “Several scholars argued that drone warfare enabled human rights violations due to misapplying legal principles of proportionality (Carvin, Citation2015) and discrimination (Gregory, Citation2017)”(Kunertova). The impact of drones has also changed the societal impact of warfare on soldiers; this quote from Sommerville (2024) explains the soldiers operating the drones “The operators are cool and dispassionate, almost clinical in their targeting and killing”

Another impact of drones on society includes the damage they cause to civilians in war zones. A news article written by Faulconbridge (2024) states, “Russia itself has hit Ukraine with thousands of missiles and drones in the last two-and-a-half years, killing thousands of civilians, wrecking much of the country’s energy system and damaging commercial and residential properties across the country.” Though this statement is about damage in Ukraine, the damage goes both ways, with civilians being killed by drone strikes on both sides of the war.

The Role of Technology in Modern Warfare

Manolache (2023) further expands on the role of technology in modern warfare. Information gathering, a critical aspect of any military operation, has been greatly enhanced by the use of drones. This advancement underscores the increasing reliance on technology in conducting multi-domain operations. The author argues that drones have become an integral part of modern warfare, playing a crucial role in information gathering and decision-making processes.

Conclusion

Modern conflicts provide ample examples of how drone technology is being utilized. Hanchett (2023) discusses the use of drones in various global conflicts and how they have changed the dynamics of warfare. Similarly, Spencer (2023) highlights the challenges posed by using tunnels in urban warfare, suggesting that drones could potentially solve this problem. These examples illustrate the practical applications of drone technology in modern warfare and its potential to shape future conflicts.

In conclusion, the development of drone technology has undeniably altered the conduct of war in modern times. While the full extent of its impact is only starting to be understood in current conflicts such as Ukraine, it is clear that drones will continue to play a pivotal role in future conflicts (Blattman, 2022). As we continue to grapple with the ethical and societal implications of drone warfare, it is crucial to foster a nuanced understanding of this technology and its potential consequences.

References

Blattman, C. (2022, October 16). The five reasons wars happen. Modern War Institute. https://mwi.westpoint.edu/the-five-reasons-wars-happen/

Campbell, I. (2022). Rethinking War, Nature, and Supernature in Early Modern Scholasticism: Introduction. Journal of the History of Ideas, 83(4), 601–611. https://doi.org/10.1353/jhi.2022.0027

Faulconbridge, G., & Osborn, A. (2024, September 10). Ukraine targets Moscow in biggest drone attack yet | reuters. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-destroys-ukraine-launched-drone-flying-towards-moscow-mayor-says-2024-09-09/

Hanchett, J. (2023, March 15). Drones in modern war: Evolutionary or revolutionary?. Department of Government. https://government.cornell.edu/news/drones-modern-war-evolutionary-or-revolutionary

Kreps, S., & Lushenko, P. (2023). Drones in modern war: evolutionary, revolutionary, or both? Defense & Security Analysis, 39(2), 271–274. https://doi.org/10.1080/14751798.2023.2178599

Kunertova, D. (2023). Drones have boots: Learning from Russia’s war in Ukraine. Contemporary Security Policy, 44(4),576–591. https://doi-org.libproxy.clemson.edu/10.1080/13523260.2023.2262792

Manolache,I.(2023).The Role of Multi-Domain Operations in Modern Warfare. Land Forces Academy Review,28(3) 163-170. https://doi.org/10.2478/raft-2023-0020

Spencer, J. (2023, October 17). Underground nightmare: Hamas tunnels and the wicked problem facing the IDF. Modern War Institute. https://mwi.westpoint.edu/underground-nightmare-hamas-tunnels-and-the-wicked-problem-facing-the-idf/

Zafra, M., Hunder, M., Rao, A., & Kiyada, S. (2024, March 26). How drone combat in Ukraine is Changing Warfare. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/graphics/UKRAINE-CRISIS/DRONES/dwpkeyjwkpm/