War, that unfortunate constant in human history, has always been fertile ground for innovation, albeit macabre innovation. And in recent decades, no technology has transformed the battlefield as radically as drones.
What began as a surveillance and reconnaissance tool has evolved into a versatile and omnipresent weapon, changing military strategies and redefining the balance of power. The war in Ukraine, in particular, has given us a raw, real-time view of this revolution in motion.
The first to adopt drones on a large scale was the United States, employing high-tech unmanned aircraft capable of launching missiles thousands of miles away. Used for targeted strikes (although the accuracy of these strikes has always been a matter of debate), these drones marked a milestone in modern warfare, allowing military power to be projected over long distances without risking the lives of pilots.
However, the real democratization of drones on the battlefield came with the proliferation of modified commercial drones. These cheap and easy-to-operate devices have become improvised but surprisingly effective weapons. Equipped with explosives, they are used in suicide attacks, known as OWA (Only Way Attack), against enemy targets.
The war in Ukraine has demonstrated the effectiveness of this tactic. Thousands of OWA drones have been deployed by both sides, overwhelming air defenses and causing significant damage. Their low cost and ease of deployment make them an ideal tool for armies with limited resources.
And the need to counter this threat has driven the development of new anti-drone technologies, such as laser and microwave systems, which offer a cheaper alternative to expensive anti-aircraft missiles.
The proliferation of OWA drones has created a new dilemma for military strategists. Traditional air defenses, designed to intercept aircraft and missiles, are not efficient against swarms of small drones. A two-tiered defense strategy is required: sophisticated systems for high-tech threats, and more affordable solutions to neutralize OWA drones. This need is driving innovation in the field of anti-drone defense, with the development of laser, microwave, network, and electronic countermeasure systems.
But the drone revolution is not limited to OWAs. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into drone systems is opening up new possibilities, from autonomous drones capable of making real-time decisions to coordinated drone swarms acting as a single unit. The combination of drones with fighter aircraft and missiles in joint attacks is transforming military doctrine.
The future of warfare, unfortunately, seems to be inextricably linked to drones. Their versatility, low cost, and ability to evolve make them a fundamental tool in 21st-century conflicts. The war in Ukraine is a sad harbinger of what is to come: a battlefield saturated with drones, where numbers and artificial intelligence will play a decisive role.
It is a cruel paradox that a technology with so much potential for civilian applications, from agriculture to logistics, has become an instrument of destruction. Investment in military drone research and development continues to grow, while efforts to regulate their use and prevent their proliferation are insufficient.
We are in an arms race driven by drone innovation, a race that is taking us further and further away from a future of peace and cooperation. It is a tragedy that we are devoting so much ingenuity and resources to perfecting the tools of death, rather than using them to build a better world.
We are that stupid.
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