Cheaper than a car, deadlier than a plane
Don't judge a drone's lethality by its price
Military drones aren't new. America used Pioneer RQ-2As in the '91 Gulf War. As one of them came in to survey Failaka Island, five Iraqi soldiers made history by waving a white flag and surrendering to it. But almost 35 years on, drone use has become common on the battlefield. Op Sindoor, Ukraine, Myanmar, Red Sea, drones have forced militaries everywhere to rethink strategy. If you find drone warfare intriguing, check out the podcast Drone Wars.
There's no denying that Ukraine mainstreamed the small 'homemade' drone as a weapon, but as military expert Mike MacKay points out in an episode, Isis was using cheap, store-bought drones to drop grenades on coalition forces in Iraq in 2016. Where the '91-vintage RQ-2A was 14ft long and had a wingspan of almost 17ft, a top-end military drone like Reaper MQ-9 – India has ordered 31 of them – now measures almost 66ft across and costs over $30mn. Pakistan's Turkish-origin Bayraktar Akinci drones also cost several million dollars each. But the drones revolutionising warfare are tiny in comparison, and dirt cheap, often costing no more than a few hundred dollars each. So, even a cash-strapped country like Ukraine can make hundreds of thousands of them. It made over 1mn in 2024 and would double output, funds permitting.
Can any military hope to acquire 2mn fighter planes? A B2 strategic bomber costs well over $1bn. But the Ukrainian drones – Magura V5 – that knocked out 40% of Russia's naval fleet in Black Sea cost only about $250,000 apiece. In Red Sea, Houthis have sunk ships with over $100mn worth of cargo, using drones that cost only about $100,000 each. Experts on the podcast say the low cost of drone warfare makes this a cavalry-vs-machine gun moment for militaries all over again. Where tanks and field guns intimidated opponents at one time, now they are sitting ducks for drones.
Christopher Miller, another drone expert, says militaries will need to adapt rapidly to drone warfare because old front line techniques, like firing mortars, are too slow. Where aiming at and hitting a target with a mortar takes at least five minutes, a drone with AI does the job in 90 seconds. And while a mortar can hit only up to a couple of kilometres, even small drones can fly 15-20km. That's why S Korea, learning from Ukraine, has decided to phase out its smaller mortars and train troops to become drone pilots. Experts on the podcast say Ukraine has 20 schools to train drone pilots. Its expert pilots can manoeuvre a drone by reckoning or counting rather than using the inbuilt camera. One of them was awarded Ukraine's Hero of the Republic medal for killing 400 Russian troops in six months.
You can shoot down drones, of course. Coalition forces in Iraq did so with guns, but when hundreds of drones – a whole swarm – come at you, countermeasures are harder. You could use sophisticated missiles like the Patriot Interceptor – or the S400 that India used to shoot down Pakistan's missiles – for bigger drones, but supplies and costs are a hurdle. For now, nobody has a foolproof counter to attacking drones, and as the bigger militaries – US, China, India – start inducting them in bigger numbers, questions about AI capabilities will also have to be dealt with. Autonomous drones could dodge hacking, jamming and GPS-spoofing, but will they hit targets their human masters want them to? That's the next drone frontier.
Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer
Views expressed above are the author's own.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
4 hours ago
- First Post
Trump allows new Syrian govt to recruit foreign jihadists in military
US President Donald Trump has approved Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa's plan to recruit foreign jihadists in Syria's reconstituted military, according to Thomas Barrack, the US Special Envoy to Syria. read more Syrian anti-regime forces celebrate as they pour into the captured central-west city of Hama on December 6, 2024, in the offensive against then-Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad. (Photo: AFP) US President Donald Trump has approved Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa's plan to recruit foreign jihadists in the country's reconstituted military. For over a decade, as a civil war raged in Syria, thousands of jihadists from West Asia, Central Asia, and elsewhere flocked to Syria where they joined a host of groups. Many of them joined groups fighting against Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad's regime — including Al-Shaara's Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. Al-Shaara himself has jihadist roots and was previously part of Isis before joining HTS when it functioned as the Syrian branch of Al Qaeda. He announced HTS' separation from Al-Qaeda in 2016 and has since pitched the group as a political movement opposed to the Assad dynasty instead of a jihadist outfit. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD ALSO READ: Beyond Pakistan: Trump's open embrace of jihadist forces across Asia a new headache for India Even as there are concerns among Western governments about Al-Shaara's government's jihadist character, Trump has announced the lifting of sanctions on Syria and has now approved the recruitment of foreign jihadists in the country's military. Thousands of foreign jihadists to join Syrian military Thomas Barrack, the US Special Envoy to Syria, has told Reuters that the Trump administration has reached an understanding with Al-Sharaa about the recruitment of foreign jihadists in the country's military. Barrack said, 'I would say there is an understanding, with transparency.' Barrack further said that it was better to keep these jihadists, many of whom are 'very loyal' to Al-Sharaa's government, within Syria's new structures than excluding them. ALSO READ: Syria's rebel-in-chief wants to be a politician, not a rebel Three Syrian defence officials have told the news agency that there are around 3,500 foreign jihadists in Syria affiliated with the HTS. They comprise mainly Uyghurs from China and neighbouring countries. Official said that these jihadists would join a newly-formed unit, the 84th Syrian Army Division. The formation would also include Syrians. The news agency reported that Barrack has echoed the same reasoning as that of Al-Sharaa's government. Two sources close to the Syrian defence ministry told the news agency that Al-Sharaa and his circle believe that bringing foreign jihadists into the reconstituted military would be less of a security risk than abandoning them which could drive them into joining groups like Al-Qaeda or Isis.
India Today
5 hours ago
- India Today
How global wars are violently escalating Earth's climate crisis
Global conflicts are intensifying Earth's climate crisis, with wars leaving indelible scars on ecosystems through poisoned air, ravaged landscapes, and destabilized natural the oil infernos of 1990s Kuwait to Ukraine's flooded habitats and Gaza's ecocide, armed conflicts have become accelerants of environmental collapse, compounding the planet's climate the 1991 Gulf War, Iraqi forces torched 700 oil wells, creating a toxic legacy still haunting the nation. While fires were extinguished within months, soil and air pollution persist, destroying 99% of Kuwait's freshwater lakes and contaminating Israel's 2023–24 offensive generated 39 million tonnes of debris—107 kg per square meter—releasing heavy metals into soils and destroying 80% of vegetative cover. The planet's fate hinges on redefining security beyond artillery stockpiles to ecological preservation. (Photo: AFP) Over two-thirds of farmland, including olive groves and greenhouses, was obliterated, while the Wadi Gaza wetland suffered irreversible damage, risking long-term 2023 Kakhovka dam breach in Ukraine flooded half a million hectares, dispersing landmines, oil, and waste into the Dnipro Delta and Black Sea. This ecological disaster contaminated 1,000 sites, threatening biodiversity and agricultural as Climate CulpritsGlobal militaries account for 5.5% of greenhouse gas emissions—surpassing aviation and shipping combined. The US Department of Defense alone contributes 1% of national emissions, while conflict zones see surges in fossil fuel use for tanks, jets, and troop reconstruction further strains climate goals, with Gaza's rubble containing 15 million tonnes of CO-intensive concrete. The UN Environment Programme notes that 40% of modern conflicts link to natural resource disputes, yet military emissions remain excluded from global climate accords. Environmental peacebuilding initiatives advocate for:Ecocide recognition: Classifying large-scale environmental destruction as an international mandates: Requiring militaries to disclose emissions data under UNFCCC reparations: Allocating 20% of post-conflict funds to ecosystem restoration, as proposed by the International Committee of the Red Cross. Israel's 2023–24 offensive generated 39 million tonnes of debris. (Photo: AFP) As India's G20 motto Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (One Earth, One Family) gains traction, experts urge integrating climate diplomacy with disarmament global military spending hitting $2.4 trillion in 2024—diverting resources from renewable transitions—the planet's fate hinges on redefining security beyond artillery stockpiles to ecological preservation.'The environment isn't merely war's collateral damage—it's a strategic frontline,' warns UNEP's 2024 report. Without binding treaties to curb martial environmental harms, climate targets risk becoming another casualty of humanity's oldest Watch
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
5 hours ago
- First Post
Pakistan's proxy war against Baloch people: ISKP's threats and militarisation of Balochistan
In a region already plagued by decades of militarisation, enforced disappearances, and economic marginalisation, the insertion of an extremist element like ISKP could lead to widespread civilian casualties and further radicalisation read more Rather than addressing the legitimate grievances of the Baloch people through political dialogue, the state appears to be repeating the failed tactics of proxy warfare. The image shows Baloch people protesting against the enforced disappearance of their family members: X/@MahrangBaloch_ In a striking development, the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) recently released a 36-minute propaganda video declaring war on Baloch armed groups, particularly the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and the Baloch Liberation Front (BLF). The group accused these Baloch organisations of killing its members and dismantling an ISKP terror camp in Mastung, Balochistan, during March 2025. More alarmingly, ISKP threatened to target unarmed Baloch civilians, marking a dangerous escalation in an already volatile region. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This declaration of hostility by ISKP has not received a response from Baloch armed groups yet, but it has raised serious concerns about the involvement of state-aligned forces in deploying religious extremism as a counter-insurgency tool against Baloch nationalist movements. Understanding ISKP: Origins and Evolution ISKP emerged in late 2014 in eastern Afghanistan as a regional offshoot of ISIS at a time when the latter was at its peak in Syria and Iraq. Composed of former members of the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban as well as recruits from Central and South Asia, ISKP quickly gained notoriety for its indiscriminate violence and anti-civilian operations. After a brief period of decline, the group resurfaced with new force after the Taliban's takeover of Kabul in August 2021. One of ISKP's deadliest attacks occurred on August 26, 2021, during the US withdrawal from Kabul, killing 13 US servicemen and over 100 civilians at the airport. Since then, it has targeted Taliban officials, foreign diplomats, and religious minorities, using social media for recruitment and propaganda. Its ideological stance rejects the Taliban's vision of Sharia governance, accusing it of betraying Islamic law. Balochistan as a Strategic Ground: The Proxy Element The presence of ISKP in Balochistan has been reported multiple times over the years. Some sources allege that senior ISKP operatives have held meetings with remnants of ISIS leadership from Syria and Iraq in this region, indicating efforts to establish a strategic hub in Balochistan to expand its terror activities into South Asia. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Afghan Taliban government, recently stated that ISKP militants were trained in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces under the supervision of Pakistani intelligence agencies and were used for cross-border attacks. Although both Islamabad and Kabul have traded accusations of supporting terrorism, neither side has presented concrete evidence. However, recurring ISKP activity in Balochistan lends weight to suspicions of covert facilitation. The timing of ISKP's video, closely following a press conference by Pakistan's military spokesperson (DG ISPR), who explicitly declared war against Baloch armed groups and BYC leadership, suggests a coordinated psychological and ideological campaign. State Strategy: Religious Extremism Against Nationalist Movements The use of extremist proxies is not unprecedented in Pakistan's counterinsurgency doctrine. In the past, groups like Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Sipah-e-Sahaba, Musallah Defa Tanzeem, and Jaish al-Adl were reportedly used to suppress Baloch nationalist sentiment. These outfits often targeted intellectuals, professors, students, and common citizens under the guise of religious orthodoxy, particularly in regions such as Awaran during the Zikri-Muslim tension. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Such tactics aimed to divide Baloch society along sectarian lines and delegitimise the secular-nationalist leadership. However, these efforts largely failed and instead generated further alienation, resistance, and political awareness among Baloch youth. BYC Under Siege: Targeting Nonviolent Resistance The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), a peaceful political organisation advocating for the rights of Baloch people, has become the face of civilian resistance. Led by figures like Mahrang Baloch, BYC has mobilised mass protests demanding the return of forcibly disappeared persons, accountability for state violence, and an end to resource exploitation in Balochistan. Despite its peaceful nature, BYC is now facing a harsh crackdown. Since late March, key leaders have been arrested under draconian laws such as the Maintenance of Public Order (3MPO), while the military has accused BYC of being an Indian proxy—without presenting any credible evidence. Connecting the dots between the DG ISPR's statements, the ISKP video, and threats to target BYC rallies, many analysts argue this reflects the old 'religious card' being played through a new proxy. The fear is that BYC's unarmed members, especially women and students participating in rallies, may become easy targets for both state-backed repression and extremist attacks. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Resilience of Baloch Armed Groups and Civil Society The Baloch armed resistance today is at its most advanced phase in decades. Compared to previous insurgencies, groups like the BLA and BLF have developed a more structured command, modern weaponry, and guerrilla capabilities suited to Balochistan's rugged terrain. Reports suggest that Baloch fighters dismantled an ISKP camp in Mastung, allegedly killing up to 30 militants—though no group has formally claimed responsibility. This not only shows their operational strength but also sends a message: Balochistan will not be allowed to become a haven for religious terrorism. Historically, Baloch nationalist groups have rejected religious extremism, advocating for a secular and democratic political future. They have consistently accused the Pakistani state of creating and manipulating extremist outfits to undermine their cause. A Dangerous Escalation with Regional Implications The ISKP video declaring war on Baloch insurgents, coupled with threats to civilian movements like BYC, marks a troubling turn. It reflects a broader strategy to criminalise both armed and peaceful resistance by invoking religious extremism as a counterforce. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In a region already plagued by decades of militarisation, enforced disappearances, and economic marginalisation, the insertion of an extremist element like ISKP could lead to widespread civilian casualties and further radicalisation. Rather than addressing the legitimate grievances of the Baloch people through political dialogue, the state appears to be repeating the failed tactics of proxy warfare. This not only threatens Baloch society but could destabilise the region further, drawing in regional powers and worsening cross-border tensions. If history is any guide, such strategies are unlikely to succeed in crushing the Baloch movement—but they may succeed in deepening the tragedy of Balochistan. Amir Naeem (X: @AmirNaeem800124) is a student of International Relations, International University Islamabad, hailing from Balochistan. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost's views.
