Remotely Piloted Aircraft and Their Use in Armed Conflicts

Drones, or remotely piloted aircraft, are a technology initially developed for civilian uses such as filmmaking, exploration of inaccessible areas, precision agriculture, and advanced logistics. They operate using GPS, advanced sensors, and lightweight materials.

However, this technology has evolved into military use.

Combat drones have expanded globally and represent a new form of modern warfare. They are capable of carrying out missile strikes at a lower cost than traditional military operations, while also reducing direct human risk for operators.

Currently, more than 20 countries operate combat drones. The market is dominated by the United States and Israel, but countries such as Turkey, Russia, Iran, and China have also developed significant capabilities.

In this context, organizations such as Amnesty International have documented drone use in conflicts in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Armenia, Ukraine, and Gaza.

However, the lack of government transparency makes it difficult to fully assess the global impact of these attacks.

In simple terms:

war has become more technological, but also harder to control and evaluate.

Source: Divulgation Magazine and Amnesty International