From Autonomy to Swarms: The Evolving Non-State Drone Threat
From Autonomy to Swarms: The Evolving Non-State Drone Threat Zachary Kallenborn and John P. Sullivan for Homeland Security Today (Dr. John Sullivan is a Senior Fellow with SWJ’s El Centro).
Ukraine’s recent mass drone attack on Russian airbases paints a grim future of drone threats to the American homeland. Ukrainian special operations forces hid 117 small quadcopters in the back of flatbed trucks, had unwitting Russian drivers stop the trucks at petrol stations near the airbases, then, when all were in place outside all five bases, blew the tops of the trucks and launched the attack. The United States estimates 20 Russian aircraft were damaged, 10 of which were destroyed, amounting to roughly 34% of Russia’s strategic bomber fleet. But the growing and evolving nature of drone warfare is not confined to states; terrorists and organized criminal organizations are employing the technology too.
Although a non-state actor launching such a complex and sophisticated attack as Operation Spiderweb would be quite difficult, non-state actors can increasingly launch drones in mass, across multiple domains, incorporating artificial intelligence and autonomy. American law enforcement and homeland security officials need to prepare.
The work continues as follows:
- Current Situation
- The Future
- Preparing for the Future
