In today's world, military technology is evolving rapidly, and one of the most notable innovations is unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones. They are fundamentally changing approaches to warfare, providing new capabilities for armed forces and significantly impacting the tactics and strategy of military operations. Like most technologies, this one is also gradually moving from the battlefield to the everyday – inevitably affecting civilian life.
Origins of the Unmanned Era
The end of the 19th century came with discoveries in electricity and radio frequencies. Famous physicist, engineer, and inventor Nikola Tesla demonstrated the first radio-controlled boat on a lake in Madison Square Garden (New York, USA) in 1898.
Despite the successful experiments, the second radio-controlled combat drone was not a boat but a military aircraft. American Charles Kettering creates a “flying bomb.” According to the inventor's plan, the airplane filled with explosives was controlled not by a pilot, but by a clockwork mechanism. At a programmed moment, it dropped its wings and fell on the enemy's head with a rock.
The idea was supported by the U.S. government. The project received funding, but several unsuccessful “bombings” led to the fact that the production of the “drone bomb” was stopped before the outbreak of the First World War.
The wars were the driving force that forced engineers to think outside the box. In 1916, during World War I, American Elmer Sperry created the “aero torpedo,” the “great-grandfather” of modern drones. This drone with a gyroscopic autopilot was supposed to carry explosives to the target, but more often fell than hit the enemy.
At the same time, the Briton Archibald Lowe developed a device that was somewhat similar to biplanes. It could be controlled by radio communication. The inventor also worked on a model that could carry explosives, but since at that time the war was already ending, this project was not allocated money, and it was curtailed.
The brilliant ideas were further developed and realized by another talented inventor Hugo Gernsback (who was even called “the father of science fiction”). In particular, in a 1963 photo, he can be seen in the prototype of the current goggles used by UAV operators, and maybe even the origins of today's Google Glass.
Fixing the battlefield
1933 was a breakthrough year for radio-controlled drones. British engineers designed the first UAV that was remotely controlled by radio and reusable.
The DH.82B Queen Bee models successfully served the army from 1934 to 1943 as target planes. They were used to train future aces and anti-aircraft gunners.
The Americans saw this technology and started to develop their own devices. They began to call their devices “drones”, which in English means “drone”. This name was a kind of reference to the “Queen Bee”.
With the beginning of World War II, drones for the army began to be mass-produced. The three main warring parties (USSR, USA, and Germany) repeatedly returned to the services of unmanned aviation, feeling its clear superiority over manned vehicles:
USA in 1939 mass-produced (more than 14 thousand copies) radio-controlled Target-type planes – QQ-2 model;
Germany designs and uses radio-controlled bombs Henschel Hs 293 and Fritz X, as well as missiles Fau-1 and Fau-2;
USSR in 1941 used the heavy unmanned bomber TB-3 to destroy bridge structures.
“Arms Race”
In the '60s, the Americans launched the Firebee, a BPLA jet for reconnaissance in Vietnam. It photographed enemy positions, and it changed the rules of the game. In 1982, Israel proved that drones are powerful: during the conflict in Lebanon, their UAVs scouted targets, helping to destroy enemy air defense systems. Then the world realized: that drones are not just an experiment.
Already in the 70s, they began to produce kamikaze drones that flew up to the target and exploded with it. The modern shahids that Russia is now launching in Ukraine, FPV (First Person View) drones (under direct operator control) to destroy single targets in the rear and on the battlefield, as well as our long-range drones, which every night work on Russian oil refineries, ammunition depots, etc., work by analogy.
The real boom started in the 90s when GPS and compact computers made drones more accurate and affordable.
Modern Warfare: Drones on the Frontline
Now drone technology is rapidly developing and being modified. One of the iconic elements of the Russian-Ukrainian war was the Turkish Bayraktar, which was very helpful in containing the occupiers at the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
It should be noted that the real breakthrough in this field occurred only in the 21st century. Modern drones evolved as a response to the need for more accurate, efficient, and safe combat operations. The first successful drone operations were conducted by the United States in Afghanistan and Iraq, where drones were used for reconnaissance and later for strikes against targets.
In particular, since 2001, the American Predator RQ-1 has not only spied but also carried out strikes in Afghanistan - it was the first combat drone with missiles.
By the way, the Iranian Shahed-136 is nothing but a reproduction and reinterpretation of the Israeli IAI Harpy anti-radar drone they shot down.
The importance of the use of drones is growing and they have already become an indispensable tool in many armies around the world, as they enable missions that were previously too risky or not possible at all. Today, drones are used in operations ranging from surveillance and reconnaissance to precision strikes against military targets.
Tactical and strategic influence
Drones have become a key element in modern warfare due to their ability to perform tasks that previously required significant human and material resources. Their key advantages include high maneuverability, the ability to operate in hard-to-reach areas, and a significant reduction in risk to personnel.
Reconnaissance and surveillance
One of the most important roles of drones is reconnaissance. Modern drones are equipped with advanced sensors and cameras, allowing them to transmit detailed images and data in real-time. This provides military commanders with the ability to obtain operational information on enemy locations and movements, which is critical to decision-making in a combat environment.
Strike operations
By being equipped with a live (explosive) part, drones can launch pinpoint strikes against enemy positions, infrastructure, and even mobile targets. This makes it possible to destroy important targets without having to send manned aircraft or ground units on risky missions. This precision and minimization of collateral damage are made possible by the technology used in today's drones.
Logistics and medical evacuation
Drones can also be used to deliver supplies or evacuate the wounded from a combat zone. This is especially important in environments where traditional methods of transportation are dangerous or impossible due to active hostilities.
Electronic warfare
Another important function of drones is the ability to conduct electronic warfare. They can be used to suppress enemy communications and radar systems, making it much more difficult for the enemy to coordinate and reduce the effectiveness of their defenses. Some drone models specialize in detecting and destroying radars and other air defenses, opening the way for follow-on strikes.
But in most cases, they become “victims” of electronic warfare (EW). To counteract this, fiber optic drones are now being actively used (although this limits the range) and drones with a predetermined clear algorithm of actions or controlled by artificial intelligence (AI) (without the possibility of remote influence) are being developed.
Outlook
Drone technology continues to evolve rapidly and its potential is far from exhausted. One of the most discussed prospects is the creation of fully autonomous drones that can perform tasks without human intervention. Such vehicles would be able to operate in high-risk environments where human presence is impossible or extremely dangerous, and remote communication is not possible.
Another promising field is the development of drones with AI that would be able to make decisions independently in combat conditions. Such drones could quickly adapt to changing conditions on the battlefield, reducing decision-making time and increasing the efficiency of operations.
Also worth noting is the development of drone swarming, where a group of drones coordinate with each other and act as a single entity. This opens up new opportunities for large-scale operations in which each drone plays its unique role.
Challenges and ethical issues
Despite the benefits, the use of drones in military conflicts also raises numerous challenges and ethical issues. One of the main challenges is the possibility of drones being used by terrorist organizations and other non-state militaries to attack civilians or critical facilities. This requires the development of new defense systems, countering drone attacks, and pressure on UAV manufacturing states.
On the other hand, the widespread use of autonomous drones raises the question of liability for their actions. Who will be held responsible in case of error or unnecessary civilian casualties? This question requires careful consideration and the development of international norms and standards.
A peaceful life with drones
The history of civilian drone development dates back perhaps to the beginning of the 21st century when FPV systems and quadcopter video recording became widely used. The popularity of this type of drone made the governments of many countries think about legislative regulation of their use.
Drone delivery of cargo (courier and medical), collection of various information in large areas (agriculture, cartography, archaeology, scientific research), as well as aerial and photography (movies, TV series, concerts, mass events, sporting events, weddings, birthdays, etc.) are already practiced.
Modern filmmaking is constantly looking for new ways to wow the audience, and drones have become a real revolution in this field. These high-tech devices have opened new horizons for directors and cameramen, allowing them to create stunning footage that used to be simply impossible or extremely expensive.
A separate trend has been sporting events such as racing and freestyle drone competitions. Imagine pilots in FPV goggles flying drones at speeds of up to 200 km/h on special tracks with obstacles. Or freestyle - stunts in the sky that take your breath away. Drone racing is already an official sport with millions of views on YouTube (look for MultiGP)!
Back in 2017, a battery-powered transportation drone was launched over the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland, USA, to deliver a small emergency medical package. A traditional delivery by automobile would have taken two and a half hours. The drone did it in 20 minutes.
The example of Sweden is inspiring, where an Everdrone multicopter delivered a defibrillator and helped save the life of a 71-year-old Swede with a heart attack. Delivery of defibrillators by drones in Sweden has been tested for several years, and since the summer of 2023 the tests have been conducted according to the following scheme: if a person becomes ill and needs a defibrillator, a drone flies to the place simultaneously with the ambulance.
And according to leading UAV manufacturers, drones are the future of many peacetime professions. In particular, they see a promising use of drones not only for fast targeted delivery of goods but also as a significant help to police, rescue, and medical personnel in terms of surveillance, detection of offenses, dangerous situations, and people in trouble (the same sudden loss of consciousness) and immediate call of the relevant services at precise coordinates.
Care, storage, transportation
The affordability of drones is an important feature and not only for the military. Thus, a $50 model is suitable for amateur filming, while professional drones like DJI Mavic or AUTEL will cost $1000. The ease of control via smartphone has made them massively popular – from schoolchildren to filmmakers.
Remember that any drone is a complex device with many components (from the battery, camera, and processor to the body, motors, and propellers). Usually, they are quite vulnerable to physical impacts and are capricious to moisture and dirt ingress. Therefore, it is very important to provide them with quality storage and transportation conditions, especially in the field. For this purpose, special backpacks have been developed, in which everything has been thought out for convenience, reliability, and comfort.
It is possible to emphasize the involvement in the sphere of UAVs in a stylish way. A variety of thematic T-shirts, patches, badge, and stickers will help.
Conclusions
From radio-controlled Tesla boats to autonomous combat systems, drones have come a long way, which is far from being completed. They have become a symbol of technological advancement, changing war and civilian life. But the big question is how do we utilize their potential in the future? The answer depends on us.
