July 26, 2017
The Coming Drone Wars: A Headache in the Making for American Foreign Policy
In June, the United States shot down two Iranian-made armed drones used by Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria. The fact that the shoot down (and the existence of the armed drones themselves) barely registered as a significant news event shows the extent to which drones are becoming a normal feature of international conflicts.
Drones are rapidly proliferating around the globe and are now in the hands of an increasing number of state and nonstate actors. The widespread availability of drones brings new challenges to international security. As more actors have access to drones, they are likely to use them in ways that challenge norms of sovereignty and change conflict dynamics. U.S. policymakers should begin thinking now about how to best prepare for these challenges and, to the extent possible, shape emerging patterns of behavior surrounding drone use.
Read the full article in The National Interest.
More from CNAS
-
Droning On: How Ukraine and Russia Have Revolutionized Drone Warfare
Podcast
In this episode of Three Questions, Paul Saunders speaks with Samuel Bendett, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security. Mr. Bendett is a military ana...
By Samuel Bendett
-
Surge in Drone Warfare Leads Pentagon to Open School for U.S. Troops
Video
Small inexpensive “off the shelf” drones like those Ukraine is using against Russia, and Hamas is deploying against Israel, are transforming modern warfare. To train American ...
By Stacie Pettyjohn
-
Small drones at war in Ukraine
Podcast
Both Russia and Ukraine are using small, commercially available drones for surveillance and in some cases, to attack military targets. Host Marco Werman speaks with Samuel Ben...
By Samuel Bendett
-
Design Flaw in Russian Tanks impacts War in Ukraine
Video
Reporter Matt Bradley discusses how a design flaw in Russian tanks is impacting its readiness. Samuel Bendett weighs in.Watch the full interview from Morning Joe....
By Samuel Bendett
