Laraib Nisar
The world and technology are evolving at an unprecedented pace. Though the technological evolution has benefitted humans extraordinarily still it has some negative implications too. The advancements are not evident in the science and technology sector only, in fact they have affected every aspect of the human life including inter-state relations and warfare. Drones, most commonly known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Miniature Pilotless Aircraft or Flying Mini Robots, are rapidly growing in popularity. They are still in the infancy stage in terms of mass adoption and usage, but drones are already quite ahead of other technologies in the industrial sector.
Over the past few years, drones have not only become very important for various businesses and governmental organizations but also have been able to outshine in areas where certain industries were either stagnant or lagging behind. The functions of these wonderful machines range from commercial, industrial to military procedures. Either a speedy delivery is needed at rush hour or an unreachable military base has to be scanned, drones are proving to be tremendously beneficial in places where man cannot reach or is incapable of performing in a timely and efficient way.
Of all the uses of drones, the military usage is most significant and the biggest driver of the technological developments and production of drones, in today’s world. Mostly being used as target decoys, for combat missions, research and development, and for supervision, drones have been an integral part of the military forces worldwide.
Like most of other technologies, the drone technology reached the South-Asian region quite late and in the wake of the ever-growing security and strategic paradox in the region. The security landscape of the region has greatly transformed after the introduction of this exceptional technology. USA, Israel and China being the major producers and exporters of the technology, India and Pakistan have not only imported the technology, but also made efforts to produce their own UAVs. India hasn’t stopped after getting its first UAV from Israel in 1998, and now has a huge drone collection including both military and noncombatant drones. Recently, the Indian Navy inducted two MQ-9 REAPER drones for one year on lease from the United States. The REAPER is state-of-the-art predator drone developed by General Atomics that achieved its first kill in 2007. India was trying to seek these drones since quite some time now and intends to buy them in large numbers in the coming years. Indian military industries are also developing their own indigenous strike drone technology.
Pakistan is no exception. Pakistani defense planners have had the foresight to start substantive UAV programs in the late 2000s, the fruits of which are apparent today. The backbone of Pakistan’s drone fleet comprises by three UAV platforms: the Leonardo Falco, NESCOM Burraq, and GIDS Shahpar. NESCOM’s “Burraq” predator drone was successfully tested in 2015 and has been effectively used in active operations. Moreover in 2018, China announced to sell its 48 high-end striker drones called “Wing Loong II” to Pakistan. It is the best Chinese technology developed by Chengdu Aircraft Industry and is considered as roughly equivalent to the MQ-9 REAPER. These combat drones provide both surveillance and strike capabilities.
Considering the strategic setup and security scenario of the region, it can easily be predicted that these machines will become one of the most sought-after weapon systems in South Asia. While drones contribute a lot in researches, rescue missions, defense, emergency responses, agriculture, mining, and energy sector, along with infrastructure development, telecommunication, journalism, and the development of the world, there are also many adverse effects of it. Drone attacks affect the environment and public health largely. They not only de-stabilize regional economic and political condition, but also inflict damage which is at par with aerial missile attacks. The chemical content and residue left from such strikes, harms agriculture, public health and even causes numerous skin and respiratory diseases. One of the biggest draw-backs of this technology is its non-discrimination among the combatants and noncombatants triggering a humanitarian crisis in most of the conflicts. Apart from these air attacks, the usage of drones also leads to invasion of privacy, interference with air activity, storage of weapons and many other illegal activities.
Countries stocking up on this marvelous technology must keep in mind all the negative impressions along with the several benefits of the technology. Especially in the South-Asian region, in the backdrop of the Kashmir situation, Pak-India border tensions, CPEC and recent Sino-Indian conflict, the use of this technology is quite likely and poses a big threat to the security and stability of not only the South-Asian region but the whole world, as the region is home to two nuclear-capable nations of the world.
The author Laraib Nisar is a Defense and Strategic Studies’ graduate, working as a Researcher at Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS).
