Economic Effects

The benefits that drone warfare creates have a big impact on the drone industry. One example is that they cause more developments in the industry with their seen potential. Due to the increasing popularity in drones, many people have started to invest in companies that manufacture them, “Private corporations foresee new business possibilities and greater profits, small lightweight drones marketed as self ‘piloted’ gadgets have attracted recreational users, and police and law enforcement officials across America foresee the advantages of using the “unblinking stare” of surveillance drones to police us” (Jayakumar, 2015). The increasing usage of drones in the police force and among hobbyists has led to the market expanding and demand increasing. Due to this increasing demand, many companies have had the opportunity to see their future potential and decide to invest in the drone market. The expanding drone market isn’t just limited to one place. Although the US is considered behind in drone warfare, there are still over 500 drone manufacturers in the US, and they produce fewer than 100,000 drones a year (Stockman). The idea that producing 100,000 drones a year is a small amount insinuates that other countries have seen the potential in drone usage long before the United States, and produce far greater quantities as well. The vast amount of drone companies in the U.S. can also give us insight into the fast growing market of drones, and how many may see their increased usage as a sign to invest. 

Effects On Soldiers

These benefits aren’t insignificant, and affect many people across the globe. Soldiers are heavily affected by the increased usage of drones, primarily due to their requirement to adapt to the new way of war. According to Michael K. Lima, “There are many benefits of a standardized approach, including a reduction of development costs by using proven munitions designs and eliminating the need for new drone-specific munitions. Military units familiar with the munitions can seamlessly integrate them into drone operations, minimizing training and ensuring compatibility with existing stockpiles”(Lima). This process of needing to use standard munitions for an entirely new piece of warfare highlights the way soldiers need to adapt to the drones we use today. It also means that they need to adapt less than if they had to take classes, meaning they still adapt but just not as much as they could be. There are also many real life examples of soldiers having to adapt to drones. According to Mathew Luxmoore, ”A shortage of artillery shells since 2023 has forced Ukraine to increasingly rely on millions of so-called first-person-view —or FPV—drones, which are equipped with a camera and a small explosive to take out enemy soldiers, weapons caches and armored vehicles” (Luxmoore). Being forced to rely on drones rather than artillery causes soldiers to use new equipment that they might have never seen before, showing us a form of adaptation. Also, the accessibility and effectiveness of drone usage in war can also give us insight on the reasons that soldiers have to adapt to new weapons, like that drones are abundant and could possibly be the future of warfare with their rate of technological advancement.

Positive Effects On Civilians

The benefits we have discussed do not only affect soldiers. They also have a wide variety of effects on the citizens of a country at war as well. Specifically, the creation of new jobs and opportunities. “The academy also runs courses on fixed-wing drones, which resemble miniature unmanned aeroplanes and can fly for hundreds of kilometres, and on the ground drones that are increasingly used at the front for delivering supplies and evacuating casualties.” (Irish Times 8).  Teaching the citizens of a country at war how to operate and use drones can create many opportunities. Not only does this benefit the country at war, it also provides the citizens with useful, modern skills. These skills could potentially open up new job opportunities for the citizens and potentially enhance their ability to protect themselves and others in this new age of warfare. “Two years ago, Ukraine produced about 800,000 drones; this year it is projected to churn out more than 5 million, said Kateryna Bondar, a former adviser to Ukraine’s government who is now at the Center for Strategic and International Studies research group in Washington” (jakes). The increased domestic production of drones in Ukraine can open up many opportunities for citizens in need of jobs. Production requires workers, and increased production also requires an increase in workers. This way, skilled citizens who are in need of work or money can be supported through the increased production of drones in warfare.

Negative Effects on Civilians

Although drones provide many benefits to citizens of a country at war, they also create an unseen danger towards citizens. Drones that target terrorists aren’t always perfect, they have many defects, “Second, the intelligence associated with drone strikes is highly imperfect. Decision makers often rely on patterns of behavior that have been predetermined to be general "signatures" of terrorists” (Coyne). Drone strikes being imperfect can cause potential danger to the citizens of a country. The decision makers could potentially target a non terroristic civilian due to their predetermined signature of a terrorist, and kill somebody innocent. Although some citizens may be benefitted by drone warfare, others may be endangered.