- NDC Policy Brief 17-22: Drone warfare: an evolution in military affairs , by Andrea Gilli *
Over the past three decades, remotely piloted aircraft (RPAs) – also known as drones – have acquired increasing importance in modern
warfare. Originally designed to perform surveillance
missions during the Cold War, drones gained prominence during the post-Cold War era through their ability to gather real-time intelligence over conflict-prone
areas, particularly in support of humanitarian interventions. Following the onset of the global war on terror,
drones acquired a further, arguably more significant
function: armed with precision-guided munitions, they
enabled Western armed forces to identify, track, and accurately strike targets from afar, reducing the need for
troops on the ground.1 Simultaneously, drones’ allegedly low costs, limited technological sophistication, and
ease of employment also enabled their rapid proliferation to dozens of countries around the world.2 According to some, the major implications are yet to come:
drones’ unique capabilities promise in fact to revolutionize warfare. Consequently, militaries could eschew
complex and expensive force structures to wage war:
they would just need drones. As countries face stronger incentives and fewer constraints for using force,
the growing availability of drones coupled with their
capabilities deserve attention because this trend risks
ushering in a new era of global instability and conflict.3
Download the publication to keep reading.
Senior researcher, NATO Defense College.
R. Whittle, Predator: the secret origins of the drone revolution, Picador, New York, 2014.
M. Fuhrmann and M. C. Horowitz, “Droning on: explaining the proliferation of unmanned aerial vehicles”, International Organization, Vol.71, No.2, 2017, pp.397-418.
C. Coker, Warrior geeks: how 21st century technology is changing the way we fight and think about war, Hurst, London, 2013.
More Research Division Publications…
NDC Public Affairs Office
NATO Defense College