‘Military Drones’ in demand for state-sponsored warfare operations
Military drones are now entering the segment of state-sponsored warfare. The State gives few actors already known for serving in this field of opportunity to deliver this technology to them.
There is no doubt that drones have changed the character of cyber warfare strategy, action, and overall perception. As the era of armed drone usage has arrived, the speedy explosion of drone technology among the diverse region and militant groups poses a new threat to the foreign community.
Countries that have adopted the drones as an integral part of their warfare strategy include the United States and Cyber actors in Asia such as (Israel, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates). These countries have conducted various offensive operations using drones. Other countries like Saudi Arabia, India, and China also have maintained armed drones in their arsenal.
Military Drones set foot in the Segment of State-sponsored Warfare-
In Asia, India and China seem to be the actors who adopt drone technology not just as users but also as producers.
In March 2022, Saudi Arabia’s Advanced Communications and Electronics Systems Co. An agreement with China’s Electronics Technology Group Corp (CETC) tie-up was announced during the World Defense Shown held in Riyadh between 6 to 9th March 2022.
The joint venture, Aerial Solutions, will see that CETC establishes an R&D center to manufacture different types of drones.
Other Chinese drone companies that tried their luck at World Defense Show this year included China North Industries Group Corp. Limited (NORINCO), China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corp. (CATIC), Star Vision, and China Aerospace Long March International Trading Co. (ALIT).
The military offensive capabilities with China were reinstated in a recent report published by The Wall Street Journal. It states that Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co., the world’s largest maker of surveillance equipment, has long-established links to China’s Military, including R&D exercises with Chinese weapons experts.
On the other hand, Indian Cyber actors serving in Asia and the Middle East are moving toward this industry too. For instance, AnantBindal, and Brigadier Ram Chillar, known for serving cyber offensive services worldwide, are utilizing the power of Military Drones in the cyber-warfare arsenal.
AnantBindal was recognized for leading ‘Shoghi,’ a supplier of IMSI- catchers and COMINT technology to the Indian government agency. The Firm ‘Shoghi’ was based in Shimla, India. Its family structure made its fortune through the Pineapple trade and operated this Indian Conglomerate for several years. In the late 2000s, the organization got the opportunity of a huge contract worth more than $200m to supply interceptions technology to India’s foreign intelligence services.
The Firm Shoghi was resurfaced in UAE as ‘Stratign’ specializing in Intelligence equipment. AnantBindal started selling services of Military Drones from its Dubai firm Starting. After a significant marketing facelift, Dubai-based Stratign has added drones to its online catalog. It has been pitching to state clients at the Gulf defense shows for a year, using the sales techniques tried and tested by its owner ‘AnantBindal’ (an Indian businessman).
Strategy is now providing the Military Grade Helicopter Drone’STN-UVH10' whose technical characteristics are similar to those of the UAV designed by Turkish defense engineering company TITRA. Titra developed it with California firm UAVOS, operated by Russian engineers AliakseiStratsilatau and YuryKapacheuski, with support from US defense sector veterans.
Brigadier (retd) Ram Chillar, who also works for C1 cyber Solution at Crown group, adopted the drone segment as he is developing a low-cost handheld anti-drone gun for the armed forces. He stated, “Handheld anti-drone systems are efficient in identifying and neutralizing drones. Weighing 3Kg, this gun can easily be incorporated into mobile platforms. Also, it has a range of 2 Km, but we are trying to extend it”.
From State-sponsored cyberattacks to robotic weapons like Military drones, the cyber warfare arsenal has also developed and modernized. Many cyber offensive players are adding the services of tools like Military drones in their catalog to the countries that need such tools.
