Harnessing Insurgent and Narco-Criminal Drone Tactics for Special Operations
April 30, 2024 by Robert J. Bunker 1 Comment
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The US Army recently took the bold initial step to fund and field commercial drones in infantry units, something many experts have been urging for some time. In a sense, the Ukraine warfighting experience has finally shifted the Army’s perspective on the combat effectiveness of low-cost, advanced commercial drones compared to expensive aircraft and military-grade drones. This shift has led to soldiers being encouraged to freely experiment and innovate in addressing the challenges of modern warfare.
This is precisely what violent non-state actors and criminals have been doing for years. Taking a needed step back, this piece explores the benefits behind commercial drone exploitation, similar to the US Marine Corps’ study of how to capitalize on the logistical merits of drug-running narco subs. The latter entails experimenting with prototype logistics supply drones, whose low profile and wake make them rather stealthy for operating in sea lanes contested by great power naval forces.
https://irregularwarfare.org/articles/harnessing-insurgent-and-narco-criminal-drone-tactics-for-special-operations/
