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The Centre for Air Power Studies and Indian Military Review will organise Unmanned Aerial Systems and Counter-UAS seminar & exhibition on 2 May 2025 at the Air Force Auditorium, New Delhi.

Impact of Drones on Military Operations

Drones continue to evolve with advancements in artificial intelligence, autonomy, and sensor technology, further enhancing their military applications. Their cost-effectiveness and ability to minimize risks to human personnel make them indispensable in modern warfare.

Russia and Ukraine have both sides have utilized drones to gain strategic advantages in reconnaissance, precision strikes, and psychological operations. The innovative use of UAVs has not only changed the dynamics of the conflict but also demonstrated the transformative impact of drones in modern warfare.

Drone Mission

• In recent years drones have been used for monitoring troop movements, gather intelligence, and providing real-time battlefield awareness.
• A U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone conducted a precision strike near Baghdad International Airport, in 2020, killing Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in a highly targeted operation.
• During U.S. withdrawal operations, drones like the Skyborg and experimental UAVs were tested for delivering medical supplies to remote bases in Afghanistan.
• Azerbaijan employed Harop loitering munitions (kamikaze drones), in 2020, to suppress and destroy Armenian air defense systems by jamming and targeting their radar systems.
• Drones equipped with thermal imaging were used to locate survivors in the rubble during post-earthquake rescue operations in Turkey in 2023.
• The U.S. military used drones to broadcast messages and warnings to ISIS fighters, in Iraq in 2014-19, urging them to surrender during operations in Mosul.
• US MQ-4C Triton UAV conducted maritime patrols and monitored Chinese naval activities in disputed waters, in South China Sea, enhancing situational awareness.
• Houthi forces used coordinated drone swarms to attack Saudi Aramco oil processing facilities in Abqaiq, in 2019, overwhelming defenses and causing significant damage.
• U.S. drones were deployed, in Syria in 2017, to monitor areas suspected of chemical weapon use, including gathering atmospheric data to confirm the presence of sarin gas.
• Following hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, drones like the AeroVironment Puma were used as communication relays to establish connectivity in isolated areas where infrastructure was destroyed.

Scope of Employment

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or drones, have become integral to modern military operations. They are versatile platforms that can be used for a variety of missions. Key military uses of drones include the following:

a. Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR).

• Real-time Monitoring: UAVs provide real-time imagery and data for battlefield    awareness.
• Target Identification: They help identify enemy positions, movements, and assets.
• Border Surveillance: Drones monitor and secure national borders against infiltration.

b. Precision Strikes and Combat Missions.

• Armed UAVs: Equipped with precision-guided munitions for targeting high-value targets.
• Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD): Some drones are designed to neutralize enemy radar and missile systems.
• Close Air Support: UAVs provide support for ground forces in combat zones.

c. Logistics and Supply Delivery.

• Battlefield Resupply: Transporting ammunition, medical supplies, or rations to remote or high-risk areas.
• Casualty Evacuation: Experimental systems are being tested for unmanned casualty evacuation.

d. Electronic Warfare (EW).

• Signal Jamming: UAVs can disrupt enemy communications and radar systems.
• Cyber Operations: Some advanced drones can conduct cyber attacks or collect signals intelligence (SIGINT).

e. Training and Simulation.

• Target Practice: UAVs are used as targets for training air defense systems and pilots.
• Operational Drills: They simulate adversary actions during military exercises.

f. Search and Rescue (SAR).

• Disaster Zones: UAVs locate survivors and assess damage in combat or disaster scenarios.
• Day/Night Operations: Thermal imaging-equipped drones enhance rescue capabilities in low visibility.

g. Psychological Operations (PsyOps).

• Loudspeaker Broadcasts: UAVs can disseminate propaganda or instructions in conflict zones.
• Demoralization: Persistent surveillance can have a psychological impact on adversaries.

h. Anti-Submarine and Maritime Operations.

• Maritime Patrol: Drones monitor coastal areas and shipping lanes for threats.
• Submarine Detection: Equipped with sonar systems to locate submarines.
• Mine Countermeasures: Identifying and neutralizing naval mines.

i. Swarm Tactics.

• Decoy Operations: Overwhelming enemy defenses using drone swarms.
• Force Multiplication: Coordinated swarms can attack multiple targets simultaneously.

k. Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) Defence.

• Detection Systems: UAVs detect and monitor radioactive, chemical, or biological threats in hostile areas.
• Decontamination Support: Assisting in decontamination efforts remotely.

l. Communications Relay.

• Signal Extension: Acting as airborne relays for communication networks in challenging terrains.
• Network Support: Providing connectivity for forces operating in remote areas.