Novel technologies, with more efficiency, precision, autonomy, speed, data-driven insights, and adaptability, are leading to renewed expectations on the battlefield. One such technology that has stirred considerable excitement in military thinking over recent years is Drone Swarming. Increasing attention is paving the way for its swift adoption by different states with the aim of better performance with reduced costs. This Working Paper examines existing literature on the subject to analyse future utility and impact of drone swarming in warfare. The findings reveal that the technology holds considerable promise for various military purposes, including offence, defence and several additional military roles on the battlefield. While opportunities are captivating military thinkers, they must also be mindful of associated challenges. Presence of effective countermeasures and possibility of even more potent countermeasures in the future, granting appropriate levels of autonomy, and ethical considerations pose concurrent dilemmas. Given rapid proliferation of the technology and its recent advent in South Asia, there is a pressing need for Pakistan to start exploring and seriously investing in this technology to meet future military requirements.
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CASS Opinion Roundup – May 2026, Vol. No. 0001
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The West: The History of an Idea
The world is witnessing the collapse of the Western order, if not the emergence of an alternative one. The idea of ‘West’ as against the rest is still at the root of contemporary understanding of world politics. Georgios Varouxakis, a remarkable voice on Modernity and Nationalism, has provided the historical origins and modern connotations attached with the idea of ‘West’. In his book ‘The West: The History of an Idea’, Varouxakis has argued that the West is not an eternal entity, rather it is a modern socio-political construct that emerged in the political philosophy of the early 19th century and evolved with the passage of time. The book provides an in-depth historical analysis of the idea to determine the roots of its modern interpretation.
Space-Enabled Warfare in the 21st Century: Pathways for Developing States
Space has emerged as a distinct domain of warfare alongside land, sea, air, and cyber. Developed countries like the United States, Russia, and China possess offensive and support capabilities in space. In the shadowed expanse of Low Earth Orbit (LEO), where satellites operate like silent custodians, the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine transformed the nature of modern conflict. As Russian troops marched forward, the commercial satellites like Maxar and Planet, which are operated by Western firms, captured high-resolution imagery of Russian troops, providing real-time intelligence to Ukrainian commanders, unlike ever before.
