Matilde Gamba
In 21st-century warfare, the loudest weapon may not be a missile, but rather the soft hum of a drone overhead. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly called drones, have radically transformed the modern battlefield. Originally developed as tools for reconnaissance and training exercises,
UAVs have evolved into complex and sophisticated systems capable of executing high-precision strikes, conducting round-the-clock surveillance, and gathering critical intelligence, all while minimising the risk to human operators. Driven by rapid advances in robotics and precision weaponry, these remote-controlled technologies have become integral to the operational strategies of advanced militaries worldwide, fundamentally altering the very nature of traditional combat.
Yet, what was once the exclusive domain of state actors has become alarmingly accessible to Violent Non-State Actors (VNSAs). Over the past decade, paramilitary groups, violent extremist organisations (VEOs), and terrorist factions have increasingly exploited commercially available drones to conduct attacks, disseminate propaganda,
and surveil adversaries. From improvised explosive devices dropped from hobbyist quadcopters to swarm tactics and AI-assisted targeting, UAVs are now at the heart of asymmetric warfare. The low cost and global availability of consumer and “off-the-shelf” drones have enabled non-state actor groups such as ISIS, Hamas, and the Houthis to wield aerial capabilities that rival state forces in tactical surprise and psychological impact.
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