23 Game-Changing Drones? The Record from Libya to Ukraine
-
Ash Rossiter
und Brendon J. Cannon
Abstract
Unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, have become integral tools in contemporary political violence and employed in diverse scenarios by a variety of state and non-state actors. They encompass a spectrum of capabilities, from off-the-shelf drones used for intelligence and reconnaissance to technologically advanced armed UAVs used by major military powers. To understand this evolving drone landscape, including an expansion of emerging manufacturers like Turkey and Iran, we highlight case studies of recent conflicts: civil wars (Libya 2019-2020), conflicts with external intervention (Yemen 2015-2022), revolts (Ethiopia 2020-2022), and interstate conflicts (Russia- Ukraine 2022-present). In doing so, the chapter emphasizes the role of external support in drone provision and employment while critically assessing drones’ actual impact in modern conflict. It tests the notion of drones as definitive game-changers and acknowledges the challenges of gathering accurate information in complex conflicts, especially in cases with limited data availability like Ethiopia.
Abstract
Unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, have become integral tools in contemporary political violence and employed in diverse scenarios by a variety of state and non-state actors. They encompass a spectrum of capabilities, from off-the-shelf drones used for intelligence and reconnaissance to technologically advanced armed UAVs used by major military powers. To understand this evolving drone landscape, including an expansion of emerging manufacturers like Turkey and Iran, we highlight case studies of recent conflicts: civil wars (Libya 2019-2020), conflicts with external intervention (Yemen 2015-2022), revolts (Ethiopia 2020-2022), and interstate conflicts (Russia- Ukraine 2022-present). In doing so, the chapter emphasizes the role of external support in drone provision and employment while critically assessing drones’ actual impact in modern conflict. It tests the notion of drones as definitive game-changers and acknowledges the challenges of gathering accurate information in complex conflicts, especially in cases with limited data availability like Ethiopia.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- 1 Introduction: Why Study Drones? 1
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Part 1: Approaches to the Study of Drone Warfare
- 2 What Is Drone Warfare? 9
- 3 Defining Drones 25
- 4 Drones and International Law 41
- 5 Drone Imaginaries 57
- 6 A Gendering of Drones 69
- 7 Critiquing Drone Warfare 87
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Part 2: The First Drone Age
- 8 What Is ‘The First Drone Age’? 107
- 9 Drone Pilots: The Struggles of War by Remote Control 111
- 10 The Post-9/11 Era: Drones and Just War Theory 125
- 11 The CIA Drone Program 141
- 12 Drones and Civilian Harm 159
- 13 Drone Warfare and Public Opinion 177
- 14 Living Under Drones 197
- 15 The Media and Drone Warfare 215
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Part 3: The Second Drone Age
- 16 What is ‘The Second Drone Age’? 237
- 17 The Islamic State Drone Program 243
- 18 The Use of Drones in West Africa and the Sahel 255
- 19 China’s Drone Diplomacy 267
- 20 Russian Military Drones: Established and Emerging Technologies in Ukraine 285
- 21 Europe’s Military Drone Problem 299
- 22 Violent Nonstate Exploitation of Commercial Drones 313
- 23 Game-Changing Drones? The Record from Libya to Ukraine 325
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Part 4: A Third Drone Age? Concerns and Visions for the Future
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Concerns
- 24 Domestic Drones and Domestic Threat: Urban Life in the Drone Age 343
- 25 Autonomous Drones 369
- 26 Swarming Drones 385
- 27 Countering Unmanned Aircraft Systems 399
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Visions
- 28 The Diffusion of Drone Warfare – A Ten Year Review 421
- 29 Drones: A Unique Danger to International Law 437
- 30 Drone Proliferation and IR Theory: Visions for the Future 453
- Contributors to this Volume 475
- Index 485
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- 1 Introduction: Why Study Drones? 1
-
Part 1: Approaches to the Study of Drone Warfare
- 2 What Is Drone Warfare? 9
- 3 Defining Drones 25
- 4 Drones and International Law 41
- 5 Drone Imaginaries 57
- 6 A Gendering of Drones 69
- 7 Critiquing Drone Warfare 87
-
Part 2: The First Drone Age
- 8 What Is ‘The First Drone Age’? 107
- 9 Drone Pilots: The Struggles of War by Remote Control 111
- 10 The Post-9/11 Era: Drones and Just War Theory 125
- 11 The CIA Drone Program 141
- 12 Drones and Civilian Harm 159
- 13 Drone Warfare and Public Opinion 177
- 14 Living Under Drones 197
- 15 The Media and Drone Warfare 215
-
Part 3: The Second Drone Age
- 16 What is ‘The Second Drone Age’? 237
- 17 The Islamic State Drone Program 243
- 18 The Use of Drones in West Africa and the Sahel 255
- 19 China’s Drone Diplomacy 267
- 20 Russian Military Drones: Established and Emerging Technologies in Ukraine 285
- 21 Europe’s Military Drone Problem 299
- 22 Violent Nonstate Exploitation of Commercial Drones 313
- 23 Game-Changing Drones? The Record from Libya to Ukraine 325
-
Part 4: A Third Drone Age? Concerns and Visions for the Future
-
Concerns
- 24 Domestic Drones and Domestic Threat: Urban Life in the Drone Age 343
- 25 Autonomous Drones 369
- 26 Swarming Drones 385
- 27 Countering Unmanned Aircraft Systems 399
-
Visions
- 28 The Diffusion of Drone Warfare – A Ten Year Review 421
- 29 Drones: A Unique Danger to International Law 437
- 30 Drone Proliferation and IR Theory: Visions for the Future 453
- Contributors to this Volume 475
- Index 485