'Game of Drones' -- a Live War Game About Drone Combat Strategy (vice.com)

derekmead writes: A national security think tank just ran a two-day war game designed to explore the different ways that drones could be used for tactical and strategic effect in a conflict. The participants engaged in 12 different scenarios and "debated the efficacy of using drones as airborne improvised explosive devices, or as a way to harass an adversary’s air force."

The summit sought to address whether shooting down a drone might escalate tensions between countries or whether drones changed the character of a conflict by giving actors capabilities they didn't have before. As more and more state and non-state actors acquire drones, the war game illustrated how drones could be used in creative ways to further political or military objectives (PDF).

Comments

Actors?

[MagickalMyst]

'... by giving actors capabilities they didn't have before.'

Calling soldiers and warriors 'actors' would imply that these evil wars are little more than Hollywood special effects.

If only that were true.

Re:Actors?

[mrchaotica]

They're not using the word in that sense. In military terms, an "actor" is merely an entity that takes an action. Think of the distinction between a "state actor" (referring to a combatant operating on behalf of a government) versus an individual acting of his own accord.

congrats you invented the "missile"

[xxxJonBoyxxx]

>> debated the efficacy of using drones as airborne improvised explosive devices

congrats you invented the "missile"

a missile that anyone can buy for $500

[Ionized]

did you actually think about what you were saying? the fact that anyone can easily purchase a missile now for such a low price is a huge fucking deal.

smartass.

Think Tank Misses a Big One....

[maomoa]

Even non-armed or non-weaponized drones could wreak havoc on civilian craft and military aircraft. With a swarm a drones, any plane on takeoff or landing is vulnerable. Helicopters as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?... A swarm of small, low cost drones could act as an effective and hard to detect air shield.

Recon

[Nidi62]

A quad with a GoPro would allow ground forces to scout out prepared defenses (or facilitate patrolling the perimeter of said prepared defenses) without revealing their own location or risking casualties. This would be particularly useful in urban engagements where rooftops become essential overwatch/combat positions.

Imagine you are a small group of fighters facing an opponent that you know has occupied part of a city block but you don't know the exact location of their forces. You could send a couple guys down alleys hoping to draw fire, or you throw a small drone in the air checking rooftops for snipers or machine gun positions, vehicles hidden behind buildings, or troops gathering in courtyards. Suddenly you have a pretty good estimate of the limits of their positions and can possibly come up with a path that avoids most overwatch positions allowing you to get in close and possibly negating any firepower superiority they may have, or you might be able to identify their CP for direct attack (possibly a suicide bombing depending on motivations).