Drones of War - The Unseen Soldiers of Modern Geopolitics

Dec 20, 20247 min read

Another Episode of “Global Canvas” from JOI

On September 10, 2024, the skies above Moscow became a silent battleground. Ukrainian forces unleashed a swarm of 144 drones in the largest aerial assault of the Russia-Ukraine war. Residential towers erupted in flames; a 46-year-old woman lost her life while three others were injured, and flights from major airports were brought to a halt. In a counterstroke, Russia launched 46 drones of its own, turning the skies into a chessboard of modern warfare.

Drones, silent and omnipresent, are reshaping conflict like never before. Yet, in contemporary layman terms, drones often represent a cool way to do aerial photography at weddings or band concerts—a tool of convenience and creativity. Beneath this everyday use, however, drones embody the chilling evolution of non-contact, non-traditional warfare in the 21st century. They raise unsettling questions: Is drone warfare ethical? To which a counter-question arises, Is warfare itself ethical? As Carl von Clausewitz famously said, "War is politics by other means." The use of drones forces us to rethink both the conduct and consequences of modern conflicts.

This week on Global Canvas, we soar into the unmanned skies of modern warfare, tracing the flight path of drones from surveillance tools to game-changing weapons. The question? How did these silent sentinels come to dominate the battlefield, and what do they spell for global security and sovereignty?

Context and Background

A drone, also called an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), is a broad term that refers to an aircraft that operates autonomously or by remote control, with no pilot on board. Drones are usually small or medium-sized, and these ‘flying robots’ can carry out a wide range of tasks, from stealth military operations to package delivery to aerial photography.

The use of drones in warfare dates back to the late 20th century, evolving rapidly from reconnaissance tools to lethal weapons. Reconnaissance UAVs were first deployed on a large scale in the Vietnam War. During the Yom Kippur War of 1973, Israel lofted drones to draw Egyptian fire, then sent manned planes to destroy the Egyptian missile batteries thus identified. During the Kosovo War in the late 1990s, NATO forces actively used drones for surveillance. These early iterations were primarily "eyes in the sky," enabling real-time intelligence for strategic strikes.

The post-9/11 landscape marked a significant escalation in drone usage. Drones also began to be used in a range of new roles, such as acting as decoys in combat, launching missiles against fixed targets, and dropping leaflets for psychological operations. Reports suggest that from 2010 through 2020, the United States undertook over 14,000 drone strikes in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen. In Afghanistan and Pakistan, the United States deployed armed drones like the Predator and Reaper, using them for ‘targeted killings’.

Fast forward to more recent conflicts, drones have become indispensable in modern warfare. The war in Ukraine has been characterised by drone deployment of unprecedented scale, with thousands of UAVs used to track enemy forces, guide artillery, and bomb targets. Similarly, in the Gaza Strip, Israel uses drones extensively for intelligence and precision strikes, often criticised for the collateral damage inflicted on civilians.

Key Players and Stakeholders

States

The use of drones has been dominated by state actors, with countries like the United States leading the charge. Beginning with targeted strikes during the War on Terror, the U.S. has utilized drones in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia, leveraging platforms like the Predator and Reaper drones for precision strikes. More recently, states like Russia and Ukraine have deployed drones extensively in the ongoing war, with Ukraine utilizing Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones and improvised commercial drones for reconnaissance and attack missions. Meanwhile, China and Israel have emerged as major manufacturers and exporters of UAVs, reshaping the global arms trade.

Non-State Actors

Drones are no longer exclusive to state militaries. Non-state actors like terrorist organizations and insurgent groups have also integrated UAVs into their arsenals. For example, ISIS has used off-the-shelf drones to drop explosives in Iraq and Syria, while Libyan rebel groups have used drones to conduct tactical surveillance. This proliferation underscores the accessibility of drone technology, allowing groups with limited resources to challenge state militaries and intensifying asymmetric warfare globally.

Major Concerns and Consequences

The rise of drones has undoubtedly changed the calculus of war. On one hand, drones offer precision, reducing the need for large-scale ground invasions and minimizing military casualties. However, this comes at a cost—both moral and strategic. Civilian casualties remain a significant concern. According to Airwars, a monitoring group, thousands of non-combatants have died in U.S. drone strikes since 2004. The psychological toll on populations under constant surveillance, where drones hover as an omnipresent threat, cannot be overstated. International law, specifically the Geneva Conventions, offers guidance on the conduct of war, including the principles of proportionality and distinction between combatants and civilians. However, the nature of drone warfare often blurs these lines.

Another major concern is the lack of transparency in how drone strikes are conducted and justified. For instance, the United States’ reliance on “signature strikes”—where individuals are targeted based on patterns of behaviour rather than confirmed identity—has led to significant controversy. Civilian casualties from such strikes raise questions about whether drones adhere to the proportionality principle.

Moreover, the use of drones in sovereign airspace without consent breaches international norms, complicating diplomatic relations. The 2020 assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani by a U.S. drone strike in Iraq is a prime example, sparking global debates about sovereignty and the legality of extrajudicial killings. Furthermore, even without missiles or releasable bombs, drones can be used as cheap precision-guided weapons to disperse chemical or biological payloads or simply to strike targets with explosives.

The arms race in drone technology poses another consequence. The proliferation of UAVs to non-state actors and rogue regimes increases the risk of drones being used in terrorist attacks. The dual involvement of state and non-state actors has also raised concerns about accountability and control in this rapidly evolving domain. The 2018 drone attack on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro highlights this growing threat.

Political Perspectives and Understanding

From a realist perspective, drones are tools of state power, enhancing security and military dominance in an anarchic global system. The proliferation of drones increases asymmetric warfare capabilities, enabling states to project power without the constraints of traditional military operations. Drones also provide states with the ability to engage in conflicts while bypassing domestic and international political scrutiny. The use of drones by powerful nations like the United States or China reflects their desire to maintain military superiority with minimal cost and risk to personnel.

Constructivism highlights the role of ideas, norms, and identities in shaping international relations. The constructivist perspective explores how the use of drones is normalized within the discourse of "precision" and "clean" warfare, altering the ethical and legal understanding of conflict. The language surrounding drone strikes—such as "surgical strikes"—shapes global perceptions, making them seem more acceptable despite their potential for collateral damage and ethical dilemmas.

Drone warfare challenges ethical norms by distancing decision-makers from the realities of conflict, lowering the threshold for lethal force. In the Russia-Ukraine war, drones have minimized military casualties but heightened civilian risks, complicating the principle of proportionality in densely populated areas. Additionally, accountability is blurred in autonomous systems, raising questions about transparency and responsibility for unintended harm. This case underscores the urgent need for international frameworks to regulate drone use, balancing military utility with moral and legal obligations.

Takeaways

Drones represent both the promise and peril of modern warfare. They offer precision and efficiency but come with significant ethical and legal challenges. From Kosovo to Afghanistan, Ukraine to Gaza, their trajectory has highlighted their transformative impact while raising critical questions about the future of conflict.

A robust international legal framework is essential to regulate their use, ensuring accountability and adherence to humanitarian principles. Technological advancements in drone defences—such as counter-UAV systems that detect and neutralize hostile drones—are also vital. Nations must invest not only in drone technology but in safeguarding against its misuse.

As the skies over battlefields grow increasingly crowded with UAVs, the international community must act swiftly to ensure that this revolution in warfare does not spiral into unchecked chaos. The question remains: as drones dominate the skies, will humanity find a way to keep its moral compass grounded?

Compiled by Commodore (Dr) Johnson Odakkal (with support from Ms Vivaksha Vats)

Stay Tuned for More!

As drones reshape the landscape of modern warfare, their ethical and strategic implications demand deeper exploration. What are your thoughts on drone warfare, and which topics or case studies would you like us to feature next? Share your insights at www.johnsonodakkal.com or email us at ceo@johnsonodakkal.com . Together, let’s navigate these critical issues and contribute to building a more informed and just global discourse.

References and Sources