Drones used for combat were once owned by military superpowers, but now they are also present with insurgents, small countries and are changing the way of warfare.
It has often been seen in military history how a single weapon becomes a symbol of the whole war.
Whether you can think of the longbow used by British archers in the medieval era or the armored tanks that were typical of the ground fighting of World War II.
The unmanned MQ-1 Predator, or UAV, also enjoyed the same prestige in the US counter-terrorism war waged in Afghanistan, Iraq, or elsewhere.
This was the 'unipolar moment' after the end of the Cold War when America stood alone, without any challenge, as a major superpower.
The drone gained iconic status when the Predator was envisioned as a reconnaissance aircraft and equipped with a Hellfire missile.
The Reaper that followed was developed specifically as a Hunter-Killer. It has a greater range than any drone that has come before it, and it is also capable of carrying a lot of warlike goods.
These are the killers from which America can make its enemies whenever it wants to target, even in those places where even its enemies cannot imagine.
It is believed that it was the Reaper drone that targeted Iran's General Qasim Soleimani outside Baghdad Airport in January 2020.
But for a very short time (only) America or Israel (thanks to its drone industry) could rule this technology. This can be considered the first era of war drones.
Since then the situation has seen a very rapid change.
Battle drones have entered a new era with many new players (countries) entering the field. The use of UAVs has moved from counter-terrorism, counter-terrorism warfare to completely conventional warfare. Drones are at the cusp of their third era where technology is extremely complex and intertwined with artificial intelligence.
Hunter Killer - MQ-9 Reaper
In front of it, there is a camera on the nose and a camera with the sensor is also present at the bottom.
V-shaped tail for better stability
It is equipped with GPS or laser-guided missiles and bombs.
Length: 10.97 meters (36 feet)
Height: 3.66 m (12 ft)
Wingspan: 21.12 m (69 ft 3 in)
Top speed: 463 kph (287 mph)
Drone strikes have played a key role in the recent conflict for the Ethiopian government in the face of attacks by rebels from the Tigre People's Liberation Front (TPLF).
The Ethiopian government has purchased armed drones from Turkey and Iran. It is also being told that it also has access to China's Wing Loong-2 through the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE also supplied drones made in China to its ally in the Libyan civil war, General Khalifa Haftar.
Drones playing an important role
Turkey has already used this drone during Operation Spring Shield in Syria in February 2020 and against the rebel forces of Khalifa Haftar in Libya.
The decisive effect of armed drones has been seen many times. It has contributed to the survival of the recognized government of Libya, while last year it also played an important role in the Nargono-Karabakh war.
Azerbaijan's military was able to take control of the disputed territory of Armenia because of the drones received from Turkey.
Turkey has already used this drone during Operation Spring Shield in Syria in February 2020 and against the rebel forces of Khalifa Haftar in Libya.
Drone attacks often create legal and ethical dilemmas. Their firepower depends on the skill of the person driving it. The hope that arms-limiting agreements would prevent their use has so far proved to be futile.
The US has been reluctant to give away its technology to any country other than its very close allies, while other countries do not discriminate.
Undoubtedly, the speed at which UAVs are growing seems difficult to stop.
More than 100 countries and non-country groups have drones. Many of these have armed drones.
"The growth of drones seems to continue," says Paul Scherer, director of studies at the Center for New America Security.
He says, "China is the largest exporter of armed drones in the whole world. Middle powers like Iran, Turkey have the technology of drones and they are selling these systems abroad."
He argues that "commercial drone technology is so readily available that anyone can make crude DIY attack drones for a few hundred dollars, some of which are even with terrorist organizations."
The decisive impact of UAVs is no surprise, he says. They are providing air force to any country very cheaply.
how effective are drones
Any country or group that cannot afford to buy fighter jets can buy drones.
He says, “These drones may not be as capable of combat as fighter jets, but they can give a decisive edge to some air powers. With the help of digital technology, drones with the capability of reconnaissance and precision attack can be quite lethal for the ground forces can."
But the use of UAVs in civil wars or regional conflicts is only a glimpse of the important role drones will play in future warfare.
When America and its allies were engaged in counter-terrorist operations, Russia was trying it in Syria. Keeping in mind how Russia would use it in a major war, it kept Syria as its testing ground.
"Russia's drone fleet in Syria conducted critical intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance missions," says Samuel Bendet, a member of the Russia Studies Program at the Center for Naval Analysis. The drone surveys have enabled real-time access to Russian weapons, rocket launch systems, and aircraft. The targets were shot in."
"This is once again defining how the Russian military will fight today and in the future with the aid of UAVs and surveyed battlefield photos. This is something that generals before today would do." didn't have it."
Russia and Drones
Russia is systematically using UAVs in the fight with Ukraine. Several Russian-made drones have been shot down in eastern Ukraine.
Bendet says that the main mission of the drone is to collect intelligence and perform the role of reconnaissance. Special types of Russian drones are a perfect fit for this.
Electronic warfare is the art in which the enemy's power is gauged from the signals sent by them and isolates him by interrupting his communication.
Russia may be a decade behind the US in terms of advanced and advanced technology, but the Russian military could be far ahead in inducting drones into its combat contingent.
"The military drone is present with the entire Russian military force and its usefulness has been seen when Ukraine's armored units were quickly identified. Its communications were cut off and artillery diverted to them," says Bendet. went.''
Why it's not easy to compete with drones
Ukraine also has Turkish drones, which they used on Donbal's pro-Russian separatists.
Drones are still used today by insurgent and militia units beyond the high-intensity battlefield.
But even if the danger of drones is well recognized, it will not be so easy to counter it.
Paul Scherer says, "Most drones in use today are much smaller than conventional aircraft and require different air defenses. They fly very slowly and at low altitudes. This means that many Not all air defense systems have a way to kill them."
He says, "Many countries are working to develop how to respond to drone attacks. In the coming times, we will see many more effective ways to stop drones on the battlefield."
However, in the event of a large number of drone attacks, it will be a big challenge to stop it because low-cost drones can be made in large numbers. There has been a lot of talk about the so-called future 'drone swarms'.
"We have seen a large number of drone strikes when in 2018 Syrian rebels attacked Russian air bases with the help of 13 drones," says Paul Scherer.
However, Paul Scherer insists that the growth of drones is not the same as that of swarms.
Regarding swarms, he says that such attacks are not defined by the number of drones, but by their ability to cooperate and launch without any human intervention.
Drone swarms can be used in different directions and continuous attacks.
And lastly, he also warns that (the use of drones) can have a dramatic effect in changing the course and direction of warfare.
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