Drone are vital militarily and economically. Drones control the skies. Heavy investment in drone technology is a must to outpace other countries. It is certain, the winner of the drone wars will shape our future.
Military
Iranian “Kamikaze drones” are being deployed by the Russian army. Ukrainian cities continue to suffer casualties and infrastructure damage in the direct attacks. Hundreds of drones are believed to have been sold by the Iranians already.
In the Western Sahara, Morocco has seen increased tension with a group called the Polisario Front. The Polisario Front is stating its intention to use armed drones. The group has threatened sustained action. Likewise, an assortment of drones protects Morocco’s airspace. Warnings have been issued about not taking action to acquire armed drones.
Turkish drones have demonstrated success on the battlefield. International interest is soaring after successful operations in Syria, Libya, and the Ukraine. Asian countries are signing purchase agreements. Malaysia and Indonesia are interested in purchasing Turkish drones. In addition, Turkey has told Japan it would be happy to supply product.
Israel has approved the use of armed drones to attack Palestinian terrorists. Israeli Defense Forces, IDF, commanders conducted drone training. From a command center, the commanders will be able to control the current 450 drone fleet with monitors. Furthermore, drones have infiltrated just about every air force.
Economic Loss
Unauthorized drone use, such as incidents over sporting arenas are a problem. 2,000 drones have been spotted flying in airport restricted space in the past year. It is important that critical infrastructure remains protected. Ridding the air of unwanted drones, needs to be the focus of authorized drones. Protecting the nation’s airspace as the number of drones increase is vital to scaling the technology. The more hours flown without incident, the better.
Norway has been on heightened alert after unauthorized drones were spotted near oil and gas rigs. The concern is real after 6 unidentified drones were seen at numerous sites. Authorities have remained tight lipped on counter-operations. The location of the rigs, makes it unlikely that the drones were hobbyists. The skill required to operate drones in these areas are concerning. The technology needed to access these areas by drone is beyond the recreational enthusiasts capability.
More needs to be done to mitigate the problems caused by rogue drones.
The Drone Age
Examples abound of the vast acceptance of drone technology. The UK hopes to have 1 million consumer drones on the “Drone Superhighway” by 2030. Drones will operate, most likely in autonomous fashion. Ground control will have the ability to help drones avoid obstacles. Reduced traffic congestion will result in increased safety. The government hopes that 650,000 new jobs will be created.
Drone technology has the potential to bring positive impacts to many industries. The technology should be deployed with minimal human interaction. Data collection will result in better decision about routes, windspeed, and other factors affecting performance. The data provided by drones can be instrumental in the prevention and monitoring of issues.
Drone education is important in furthering economic growth. UC Santa Cruz has a directive called, CIDER. The program recognizes that drones impact nearly every professional field. Students are receiving hands-on training with drones. The industry is expected to grow to $90B by the year 2030. Programs, such as these, will be crucial to maintaining the lead in the drone wars. h
Conclusion
It’s obvious, drones will be important moving forward. Drones impact many areas: military, professionally, and economically. Countries that are embracing the technology are thriving. Drone jobs are going to be a big part of the economy moving forward. Schools need to encourage students to gain the skills that will help them thrive in the drone age.
