Era of Drone Swarming: Exploring Battlefield Implications

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.