Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Admiral James Stavridis, has issued a stark warning about the growing threat posed by drone swarms.
Stavridis, who retired from the U.S. Navy in 2013, said that drone swarms could be used to overwhelm air defenses and carry out devastating attacks on military and civilian targets.
“A swarm of 100 or more drones could saturate an air defense system, making it difficult to track and intercept all of them,” Stavridis said. “This could allow even relatively unsophisticated drones to penetrate airspace and carry out attacks.”
Stavridis also warned that drone swarms could be used to target critical infrastructure, such as power plants and communications networks. “A coordinated attack by a swarm of drones could cause widespread disruption and even loss of life,” he said.
The threat from drone swarms is not just theoretical. In 2017, a swarm of drones attacked a Russian military base in Syria, causing significant damage. In 2019, a drone swarm was used to attack an oil refinery in Saudi Arabia.
Stavridis said that the United States and its allies need to take steps to address the threat from drone swarms. “We need to invest in new technologies to detect and track drones,” he said. “We also need to develop new tactics and doctrines to defend against drone swarms.”
Stavridis said that the United States and its allies should also work together to develop international norms and regulations for the use of drones. “We need to make sure that drones are used responsibly and in a way that does not threaten international security,” he said.
The threat from drone swarms is a serious one, but it is not insurmountable. By working together, the United States and its allies can develop the technologies and strategies needed to defend against this new threat.