One-way attack drones: Low-cost, high-tech weapons ‘democratize’ precision warfare

One-way attack drones have changed the face of the Russia-Ukraine war and give Iran a boost in countering US and Israeli forces.

By: Michael C. Horowitz, University of Pennsylvania and Lauren Kahn, Georgetown University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: April 16, 2026

Words: 1,354

Last Updated: 3 months, 2 weeks ago

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By Michael C. Horowitz, University of Pennsylvania and Lauren Kahn, Georgetown University

Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East have propelled drones into the headlines. The word “drone” now stretches to cover everything from hobbyist camera rigs available on Amazon to the Predator and Reaper systems the United States has relied on to fight terrorist organizations over the past 20 years.

A common ancestor in the animal kingdom can give rise, under sufficient …

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