The Weaponization of Commercial Technology

Drones aren’t strictly military systems, however. The differences between UAVs developed specifically for the battlefield, and those designed for recreational use, are shrinking. This is especially due to the modifications that militaries are making to commercial drones. Today, drones sold by Baykar and General Atomics are sharing the battlefield with systems that can be purchased from Costco or delivered by Amazon.

Commercial drones are being used by the Ukrainian and Russian militaries, as well as independent citizens who have organized “drone squads.” Their omnipresence in the conflict has caused the prices of these systems to almost double and even led to the suspension of sales in some cases. The Chinese commercial drone manufacturer DJI, for example, has refused to sell to Ukraine or Russia directly and other companies are trying to prevent their products from being turned into weapons.

The blurring of civilian and military applications of drones has served as a significant catalyst for many crowdfunding efforts. Military drones have become financially accessible to wealthy private citizens, community groups, and organizations. Commercial drones are more affordable and can perform similar roles but are not limited by political or logistical red tape when it comes to purchasing and transferring them to the battlefield. 

Drones and the Future of War

While the Russian invasion of Ukraine is not the first war with a major online presence, it is definitely the largest interstate conflict during the social media era. Given the pervasiveness of smartphones, photos and videos from the frontlines are posted daily to increase public awareness of and involvement in the war. Wider awareness and a desire to support the Ukrainian military have encouraged “volunteerism” by civil society groups in Ukraine and its supporters abroad, leading to the establishment of crowdfunding efforts to assist with the war effort. 

In the past, such volunteerism might have led to drives for humanitarian aid and refugee resettlement efforts. But today, the increased accessibility and affordability of drone technology, coupled with innovations in banking and financial technologies like NFTs and cryptocurrency, have allowed the spirit of volunteerism to directly fund efforts to acquire weapons and arms. Thanks to the maturation of drone technology, military and commercial UAVs have become a linchpin in the Russo-Ukrainian War and there is no doubt that drones will play an outsized role in future conflicts.

Andro Mathewson is a Research Officer at the HALO Trust, focusing on the conflict in Ukraine. He completed his master’s in International Relations at the University of Edinburgh where he explored the proliferation of underwater drones. Prior, he was a Research Fellow at Perry World House at the University of Pennsylvania, where he received his B.A. in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics. Andro is beginning his Ph.D. in War Studies at Kings College London in September 2022.

Lauren Kahn is a research fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, where her work focuses on defense innovation and the impact of emerging technologies on international security, with a particular emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI).

Image: Reuters.