Small, commercially-available drones are democratizing warfare. Powerful states employ large, military-grade drones, but terrorist and insurgent groups have adapted small drones to gather information and bomb targets. ISIS jerry-rigged inexpensive drones to bomb Iraqi soldiers. Dissidents in Venezuela tried to use one to assassinate Nicolas Maduro, the country's leader. A few drones shut down London's Gatwick airport, and authorities still don't know who did it. We are entering the age of the drone terrorist, and countries are not ready.
Nicholas Grossman is Teaching Assistant Professor of International Relations at the University of Illinois, senior editor of Arc Digital, and the author of Drones and Terrorism. His writing on drones has appeared in the Washington Post and War on the Rocks, as well as other venues.
