Swarm Drones — New Frontier Of Warfare

A new way altogether of releasing force on the enemy, Swarm Drones will play a dominant role in the conflicts of the future, with more and more states and non-state actors using this technology

- LT GENERAL DUSHYANT SINGH (RETD)

Introduction

Drone warfare is being extensively and effectively used by many countries to conduct hybrid warfare against their adversaries. For example, the Us has employed drones with telling effect in the Afghanistan war to target the fighters and leaders of AlQaeda and Taliban. recently it targeted the Iranian major General Qasem Soleimani. other countries that have used drones are turkey against the Kurdistan Workers’ party, Nigeria against Boko haram, Iraq against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (Isis), and Saudi Arabia in Libya and Yemen. swarm drone attacks with loiter capability have made drone warfare even deadlier and LETHAI. A classic example of a swarm drone attack was conducted by Yemeni Houthi rebels on two Aramco installations of Saudi oil Companies by 18 drones and three low-flying missiles which many believe was actually conducted by Iran given the sophistication of the attack. however, drone warfare shot into the limelight during the recent Azerbaijan - Armenian conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. During the conflict, drones were used by Azeri defense forces against the Armenian land forces with a telling effect.

Proliferation of Drones