Drones' Proliferation: Should We Worry?

The advance in RPA technology made during the 21 century changed a lot the nature of warfare. Acquiring new and sophisticated technology appears as an advantage for modern warfare, but the vast proliferation associated with the complexity of the new operational environment may transform this advantage into a disadvantage. It is now easy for non-state actors such as VEOs to possess small RPAs that could carry small munitions and even Chemical-Biological-Radioactive-Nuclear substances. ISIS has used small UAVs against a Russian Air Base in Syria; the 250 gram UAVs was carrying IEDs to deliver in designated locations. Being widely available, cheap, and expandable, many countries, as well as non-state actors, are using small UAVs primarily for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance purposes but they are also utilized armed with small munitions to target specific objectives surprisingly. No doubt, the threat already exists, but the real issue for planners is how to plan with that threat in mind? This research aims to provide the Chief Decision Maker with some recommendations that could help to mitigate the risk of the vast proliferation of RPAs and the possible misuse of this technology, especially by non-state actors.