Internal Security
UAVs in Modern Warfare
- 22 Mar 2025
- 8 min read
For Prelims: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Strait of Hormuz, MQ-9 Reaper Drone, Indrajaal, MSMEs, AI, Robotics, Swarm Technology.
For Mains: Role of UAVs in modern warfare, Concerns related to UAVs for India and way forward.
Why in News?
The sighting of two Chinese unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) near Okinawa (Japanese island) has raised concerns over the increasing role of UAVs in military and surveillance operations.
What are the Advantages of Drones for Military Operations?
- Cost-Effectiveness: Drones have lower purchase and operational expenses (fuel, maintenance, and logistics).
- An MQ-9 Reaper drone costs USD 32 million, while an F-35 exceeds USD 80 million.
- Reduced Human Risk: Drones reduce the risk of pilot casualties, making them ideal for high-risk missions in hostile environments. E.g.,
- US-Iran 2019: Iran shot down a US drone over the Strait of Hormuz. Despite tensions, the US did not retaliate.
- Persistent Surveillance: Drones can stay over a battlefield for long periods, providing real-time intelligence and improving situational awareness for decision making.
- AI-powered drones operate autonomously, quickly identifying and engaging targets with less human involvement.
- Operational Flexibility: Drones can swarm for coordinated attacks and serve in reconnaissance, surveillance, and precision strikes.
- In the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, UAVs, particularly Turkish Bayraktar and kamikaze drones by Azerbaijan, played a key role in weakening the Armenian army, leading to Armenia's defeat.
- Suitability for Asymmetric Warfare: Drones are highly effective in counterinsurgency and counterterrorism, delivering precise strikes with minimal damage.
- The US, and Turkey have used them in the Middle East and Africa for eliminating terrorists.
- Lower Logistical Requirements: Drones do not require extensive infrastructure like airbases, refueling tankers, or pilot support systems.
- E.g., Russia easily deployed Iranian Shahed-136 drones to weaken Ukraine's defenses.
How Concerns are Related to Use of UAVs?
- Facilitating Conflict: Drones reduce the risk and cost of warfare, making it easier for states to engage in military actions without deploying troops. E.g., use of US drones in the Ukraine war.
- Empowerment of Non-State Actors: Drones enable non-state actors to compete with state militaries. E.g.,
- Escalation of Regional Tensions: The expanding drone market, led by China, Turkey, and Israel, fuels arms races and conflict.
- E.g., the US drone strikes in Afghanistan from Pakistani soil have triggered retaliation and escalated terrorism in Pakistan.
- Deniability and Proxy Warfare: Drones allow nations to carry out strikes without direct attribution, maintaining plausible deniability.
- It enables indirect involvement in conflicts by supplying drones to allies or rebel groups, fueling proxy wars.
- Prolonged Warfare: Civilian casualties from drone strikes, such as those in US operations in the Middle East, have fueled public outrage and radicalization, perpetuating cycles of violence.
What are the Impacts of Rivals Using UAVs Against India?
- Increased Security Threats: Growing drone incursions on India’s borders with Pakistan and China pose military and internal security threats due to weapon and drug smuggling.
- AI-powered drones enhance surveillance for Pakistan in Kashmir and China in Ladakh, challenging India's strategic secrecy.
- Military Asymmetry: China leads in drone warfare with AI-driven surveillance and strikes, while Pakistan leverages Chinese UAVs for better reconnaissance and combat.
- Despite India’s development of Indrajaal (an AI-powered anti-drone system), it lags in counter-drone capabilities compared to China.
- Cybersecurity Risks: Indian drone hacking incidents near the border expose cybersecurity risks. Strengthening electronic warfare remains a challenge.
- Dependence on Foreign Drones: India's reliance on imported drones like the MQ-9B risks supply chain disruptions and limits military self-reliance.
How India Can Strengthen Its UAVs Capabilities?
- Counter-Drone Measures: Strengthen systems like Indrajaal to detect and neutralize threats and invest in jamming and hacking countermeasures.
- Improve drone battery efficiency and stability in harsh Himalayan conditions to counter cross-border threats.
- Expand eagle training by defense forces to intercept enemy drones.
- Indigenous Drone Development: Promote domestic manufacturing, strengthen public-private partnerships, and support drone startups & MSMEs with funding and incentives.
- Promote development of drone nets to entangle drone rotors mid-flight, disabling propulsion and bringing them down
- R&D Investment: Invest in AI, robotics, pilot training, and research on autonomous drones, swarm technology, and high-altitude UAVs.
Conclusion
The increasing use of UAVs in military and surveillance operations presents both strategic advantages and security threats. While India faces growing drone incursions from adversaries, strengthening counter-drone systems, promoting indigenous development, and investing in AI-driven drone technology are crucial for enhancing national security and maintaining military competitiveness.
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Drishti Mains Question: How can India strengthen its counter-drone capabilities to address cross-border threats? |
UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)
Prelims
Q. Consider the following activities: (2020)
- Spraying pesticides on a crop field
- Inspecting the craters of active volcanoes
- Collecting breath samples from spouting whales for DNA analysis
At the present level of technology, which of the above activities can be successfully carried out by using drones?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Ans: (d)
Mains
Q. Border management is a complex task due to difficult terrain and hostile relations with some countries. Elucidate the challenges and strategies for effective border management. (2016)
