THE EMERGING ROLE OF DRONES IN SHAPING PRESENT AND FUTURE CONFLICTS

Abstract

The advent of drone warfare has unravelled a new era in contemporary conflicts, essentially altering the dynamics of global security. Notable drone attacks on major strategic targets worldwide have accentuated their profound implications and geostrategic impact on the world economy, global supply chain, and volatile geopolitics. As nations strive to bolster their economic and power standing amid rising global competition, defence budgets worldwide have visibly declined. To balance the complex interplay between defence, security, and development, affordable drones have emerged as the ideal weapons in these volatile and uncertain times. Their novel characteristics and advantages make drones pivotal tools for asymmetric warfare and introduce a new layer of complexity to military affairs. Epitomising the principle of mass, suicide drones have reinstated the era of attritional warfare, reminiscent of Sun Tzu’s strategy of bleeding the enemy through a thousand cuts aiming to exploit the economic and psychological strains on adversaries, forcing them into protracted conflicts. Recent conflicts, such as those in Nagorno-Karabakh and Ukraine, starkly illustrate this metamorphosis and the predominant character played by drones in modern warfare. Their extensive integration into conflicts has essentially transformed warfare and challenged battle-hardened doctrines, especially as conflicts become more hybrid and grey. Understanding the deeper underlying rationale behind their rise, the challenges, and the future of drone warfare is vital for comprehending their evolving role in modern warfare.