A new research article published through Taylor & Francis Online examines how terrorist organizations and transnational criminal groups are using unmanned aerial systems (UAS), highlighting both similarities and important differences in how the technology is being adopted.
The article, “Terrorist and Cartel Use of Unmanned Aerial Systems: A Comparative Assessment,” draws on data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) and the Global Terrorism Trends and Analysis Center’s Record of Incident Database (GRID), supplemented by case studies from multiple regions.
Researchers found that state-sponsored terrorist organizations, particularly Iran-backed groups, have progressed furthest in their adoption of UAS technology. According to the study, these organizations have incorporated military-grade drones into precision strikes and combined-arms operations.
The picture is different for terrorist organizations without state sponsorship. The research found that these groups more closely resemble Mexican cartels in their use of commercially available drones, decentralized supply chains, and improvised modifications.
Despite differences in sophistication and access to technology, the research identified common uses across the groups studied. Drones are primarily employed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, as well as for delivering explosives over relatively short distances.
The study also identified differences in how drones are used against targets. Terrorist drone attacks were found to be deadlier overall, while cartels used drones more frequently against civilian targets.
The findings provide a comparative look at how UAS technology is being incorporated by different terrorist and criminal organizations, from commercially available systems that can be modified for operational purposes to military-grade platforms used by more sophisticated actors.
The research project was supported by the National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center (NCITE) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate.
The full article is available through Taylor & Francis Online and can be accessed with a paid subscription or through institutions that provide access.
