The rapidly growing use of deadly drones is profoundly shaping state and armed groups’ capacities to wage war, according to new research from peace organization PAX called Violent Skies.

The report Violent Skies demonstrates how all actors involved have quickly learned how to make use of drones in all shapes and sizes in their military operations. In the wars in Yemen and Ukraine alone, 40 types of drones were used from 12 different countries. The outcomes of the report paint a disturbing picture. Remote lethal force with armed drones is being used in conflicts all over the world, spurred by burgeoning drone industries and States seeking to expand their geo-political and military influence with drone sales and support operations. Now even groups that previously had little access to intelligence can easily track their enemies and eliminate them from a distance. Many innocent people fall victim to this. It’s time to control drones.

Date: August 2020
Authors: Wim Zwijnenburg and Alies Jansen, PAX