The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is seen as a turning point when it comes to the use of UAVs in warfare and the consequences seen will have a large effect on the perception of combat drones as a combat system in years to come.
In recent years, militaries around the world have been using drones for its reconnaissance capabilities but the manner in which drones and UAWs were effectively used in the Nagomo-Karabakh conflict has made militaries around the world sit-up and take notice.
The Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict: The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region began in late September 2020 and concluded on November 10 2020 through a Moscow-brokered truce. The conflict included heavy use of missiles, drones, and rocket artillery with Azerbaijan emerging as the clear military victor because of its more diverse and modern arsenal of missiles, rockets, and drones.
Armed UAVs were used in the past too but were sporadically used in various numerous battlefields by different armies having different armed formations. However, it was the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in 2020 that can truly be said to be the turning point when analyzing the application of the UAVs as a combat system.
The Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict has shown the world the real might of UAVs in a war-like scenario. UAVs can be used defensively as well as offensively and they are an inexpensive way to track the enemy and bring them down. Militaries foresee a much bigger role for UAVs in future, and for the Indian army especially, UAVs can play important part in conventional warfare as well as in taking down militant networks and other non-conventional targets.
References
CSIS (December 8, 2020). The Air and Missile War in Nagorno-Karabakh: Lessons for the Future of Strike and Defense https://www.csis.org/analysis/air-and-missile-war-nagorno-karabakh-lessons-future-strike-and-defense
Foreignpolicy (MARCH 30, 2021). The U.S. Army Goes to School on Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/03/30/army-pentagon-nagorno-karabakh-drones/
He, D., Chan, S., & Guizani, M. (2016). Communication security of unmanned aerial vehicles. IEEE Wireless Communications, 24(4), 134-139.
Ilić, D. and Tomašević, V. (2021). The impact of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in 2020 on the perception of combat drones. Serbian Journal of Engineering Management, 6(1), 9–21.
Indiatoday (June 30, 2021). From surveillance to combat: Decoding India’s drone mission https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/decoding-india-drone-mission-surveillance-combat-jammu-attack-1820965-2021-06-30
ORF (JUN 30 2021). Drone Terror Attack on Jammu Airport: A Deadly and Dangerous Dare. https://www.orfonline.org/research/drone-terror-attack-on-jammu-airport-a-deadly-and-dangerous-dare/
Voskuijl, M. (2021). Performance analysis and design of loitering munitions: A comprehensive technical survey of recent developments. Defence Technology.
Question: India has a vast land border and coastline including island territories. Securing the borders against hostile forces is critical to the country’s security. The recent everts of Nagomo — Karabakh have shown the world the real might of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAVs) in a war scenario. Using armed drones in military operations no longer raises eyebrows as that is the future of military warfare. With its enhanced reconnaissance capabilities and ability to track targets for hours, drones are fast gaining favour in all militaries. For the future of Indian Military UAVs are important as they are capable of penetrating the enemy air space stealthily with payloads and missiles. When deployed defensively a swarm of weaponised drones can create an impenetrable screen against incoming targets, including a missile. With the potency of a combat drone, military operations will soon witness huge changes. The impact of UAVs shall not only be seen in conventional warfare but also can be used to threaten militant networks and other non-conventional targets.
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