UAVs and Air Power: Role of UAVs in Future Warfare

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) provide the ability to locate and track enemy deployments, gather electronic intelligence, designate and/or destroy targets and simultaneously evaluate the extent of target destruction that has taken place. UAVs can therefore undertake the entire detection to destruction loop significantly faster and more effectively, thereby bringing in considerable operational effect.

From micro and mini drones operated by Pakistan-based elements to air drop arms and ammunition in India to small, medium and large UAVs used in Afghanistan, Iraq, Nagorno–Karabakh and in the ongoing Russia– Ukraine war and Israeli–Hamas conflict, drones are being employed by both state and non-state actors. The use of UAVs was critical in the success of Azerbaijan forces at Nagorno–Karabakh and highlighted how armed drones are changing the way warfare is conducted. From High-Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) UAVs to cost-effective Switchblade loitering munitions, UAVs have come a long way to make the battle tank become vulnerable in the contemporary battlefield.