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US Bets On ‘Drone Swarms’ To Stop China’s Invasion Of Taiwan; IAF Expert Explains Why They Could Be Both ‘Asset & Threat’

OPED By Anil Chopra

The US Navy is co-opting the defense industry to quickly develop swarming drones, including underwater drones, that will neutralize the numerical superiority that the Chinese PLA Navy enjoys in the Indo-Pacific region. What are swarming drones, and why can they be both a threat and an asset for a country like India? Former Indian Air Force Air Marshal, Anil Chopra, explains.

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In their conflict with Hamas, in May 2021, the Israel Defence Forces became the first military to use a drone swarm in combat. This self-communicating and coordinating drone swarm struck “dozens” of targets. Some other targets were simultaneously being attacked by missiles and other munitions.

Drone swarms may be more efficient and robust for certain applications than single drones because swarms can complete a variety of tasks in parallel without human supervision.

The Mehar Baba competition of the Indian Air Force (IAF) actually ushered in the drone swarm revolution in the country. In November 2021, India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) showcased the armed swarm drone technology to the Indian Army (IA) at an event in Jhansi.

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