Drone Wars: The Future of Conflict

Drone Wars: The Future of Conflict is a groundbreaking exploration of how unmanned systems are transforming the battlefield, shifting global power, and redefining the rules of war.

From the Bronze Age to the nuclear era, history has demonstrated that revolutions in military technology have reshaped societies. Today, the rapid rise of drones-affordable, autonomous, and increasingly lethal-is the next evolution. Once the domain of superpowers, drone warfare has been democratized. Now, insurgents, terrorists, criminal cartels, and lone actors can wield capabilities once reserved for the most advanced militaries.

Author Donald Elton examines the technological breakthroughs that have driven the development of drones. He explains how artificial intelligence, sensor fusion, swarm tactics, and cheap commercial innovation have made the skies contested territory. The book explores real-world case studies from Ukraine, the Middle East, and beyond, showing how drones are being used for surveillance, assassination, psychological warfare, and even propaganda.

But Drone Wars is more than a catalog of capabilities. It wrestles with urgent questions:

• How can we defend against $500 drones with million-dollar systems?

• Who bears responsibility when an autonomous drone kills?

• What happens when AI makes decisions faster than humans can respond?

Packed with historical context, strategic insight, and clear technical explanation, this book is essential reading for military professionals, policymakers, technologists, defense journalists, and anyone concerned with the future of global security.

Drone Wars is not science fiction. It's already here.