Playing the Game of Drones – How Evolving Unmanned Aerial Technologies are Transforming the Conduct of Modern Warfare
Laurna Sim
International Relations
2nd
2nd
Abstract
Beyond the specifics of strategy and tactics, war is an expression of the political psyche — from fears to ambitions and everything in between, analysing war as a continuation of politics facilitates one’s appreciation for the key drivers of state behaviour. Nowhere is this more evident than in the emergence of drone warfare — where the weaponisation of unmanned technologies have transformed wars into a political instrument of convenience.
The deployment of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) since the previous decades have revolutionized the conduct of modern warfare — reshaping military strategies and battlefield dynamics. By examining the Russia-Ukraine war, this research demonstrates how UAVs have enabled states to achieve tactical warfare advantages previously unattainable with conventional platforms. Beyond understanding the symbiosis of UAV proliferation and the conduct of next-generation warfare, this research also underscores the limited strategic value of UAVs. Tactical innovations alone are fundamentally incapable of altering the outcomes of war, indicating the need for complementary capabilities and broader strategic integration.
This research identifies key lessons for small states navigating an increasingly volatile international sphere. It provides actionable recommendations to bolster next-generation warfare strategies, ensuring resilience and the safeguarding of national interests amidst evolving geopolitical challenges. Through the analysis of UAV innovations and its inherent limitations, this research underscores the nuanced potential of UAVs in shaping the future of conflict.
Bio
LAURNA SIM is a second-year International Relations undergraduate at the University of Glasgow, pursuing a Master of Social Sciences (Honours). Having grown up in Singapore, a small state that constantly navigates the demanding intricacies of diplomacy, the volatile nature of global affairs piqued her curiosity about the dynamism of International Relations. As such, analysing state behaviours to predict their political tendencies especially in the context of wars forms the core of Laurna’s research interests.
Laurna’s research interests extend beyond the field of geopolitics and warfare. Laurna is equally driven to better understand the intersectionality of Sociology and International Relations — as societal structures and social psychology can influence political outcomes albeit through less overt means. To her, the study of International Relations encompasses the study of people: their desires, fears and the systems they construct in hopes of achieving some semblance of control within an unpredictable world.
As Laurna continues her research, she hopes to unravel not just the evolving nature of warfare, but what these changes reveal about the states waging such wars — and the world they are changing in the process.