Unmanned Aerial Systems and the Threat of Non-State Actors: Challenges and Prospects for India

The decade 2010–20 witnessed an upsurge of unmanned aerial systems. Alternatively known as drones, they are generating employment in different sectors including both civilian and defence. Goldman Sachs reported about a US$ 100 billion drone market between 2016 and 2020. In addition to its growing demand in commercial and government sectors, drones provide a cheaper and safer option for the armed forces as an alternative to manned aircraft. Applications of the drone in the Nagorno–Karabakh conflict and the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war have unleashed its growing importance on the battlefield. This trend shows that defence will remain its largest market, providing an opportunity to invest and manufacture the technology. The global competition for manufacturing drones is heating up and many countries are coming out with improved technology. The growing market has not only attracted the government but also non-state actors. Drones are becoming a viable option for terrorist groups and many non-state actors with their cheaper, less detectable and limited capabilities. For example, in 2018, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was attacked by two drones while addressing the Bolivarian National Guards in Caracas. Drones are being used in regular armed conflicts between rebel groups.

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