Sun Tzu, or Sun Tzu as we know him, said in his Art of War that “In a hundred battles, you will win a hundred battles.” This means that if we know our strength and the strength of the enemy, we do not need to fear the outcome of the next hundred battles. This statement has been used in warfare since the past and has been passed down to the present generation. Today, the advancement of technology allows soldiers on the front line to know the enemy’s strength quickly and promptly without having to wait for information gathering from the rear to be sent to the front line. The technology that is being watched and is an important factor in today’s warfare is… drones.
"Heron drone from IAI, Israel"
Drones have been used since the Cold War era, but they are limited in terms of both roles and numbers. Even Thailand used drones during the war era, such as the case of the Ban Rom Klao battlefield, where the Thai side used R4D Skyeye drones to take pictures and inspect the Laotian area. At that time, the knowledge of drone use or even the existence of drones at that time was a complete secret. After the September 11, 2001 attacks or 9/11, the use of drones in military activities has become more widespread and less secretive, partly due to globalization, as well as the advancement and accessibility of technology that allows even civilians to possess such technology but still maintain it in a limited form, such as drones as image or video recording devices or toys, etc.
"With the advancement of technology, drones are now accessible to all groups."
With the various variables that make the use of drones more accessible to all parties, especially in the military, drones have become a key factor in the success of the mission. Many countries have used drones for mission success, but the use of drones on the front lines is still very limited because the drones that many countries use are large drones such as the MQ-1, IAI Heron, Elbit Hermes 450, and Bayraktar TB2. To support the mission of the army at the army level, many countries are trying to adapt to the changing trends that are happening because the use of drones is no longer used at the army level, but is used at the squad level, where in the past, the use of drones at the squad or platoon level was eliminated only by special forces. On the day that all parties have access to the use of drones, this concept is gradually changing. Soldiers, police, and security officers in countries where war and conflict are still simmering have used civilian drones to carry out missions without waiting for a request to use drones from higher command. A clear example is the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Since the beginning of the invasion in February, small drones or civilian drones have greatly helped the Ukrainian side in resisting the Russians, whether it is using drones to identify the Russians' positions, use aerial photography, and use them to inspect the terrain. Including modifying a number of drones to have the ability to drop bombs such as grenades and mortars. But the fact that commercial drones play an increasing role in warfare does not mean that they will replace military drones. But civilian drones are affordable for everyone. Soldiers can buy them for their own use to increase their visibility on the battlefield. Even civilians can buy them to donate to soldiers.
"The Bayraktar TB2 drone (made in Turkey) used in Ukraine to destroy enemy positions and armored vehicles."
"Ukrainian soldiers on the front line have used civilian drones to identify/locate enemy positions."
However, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has made many armies realize the advantages of having drones for soldiers from the squad level to use on the battlefield. This has led to changes in many armies that have initiated the inclusion of small drones, both military drones and civilian drones, for military units other than special forces to use. In Thailand, civilian drones have already been used in the South, but it is expected that these drones were donated or purchased for personal use.
"The war in Ukraine has led to many armies bringing small drones for use by infantry...for example, China."