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The proliferation of drones among both state and non-state actors, as evidenced by their widespread use, signals a shift towards more accessible forms of military engagement. In this context, the paper discusses how drones, as unmanned, remotely operated aircraft, have revolutionized warfare by enabling remote engagement and minimizing personnel risk. Concepts such as risk compensation, the 'body bag syndrome', and the potential for drones to lower the threshold for use of force has also been explored. The precision and long endurance of drones, coupled with their cost-effectiveness, emerge as double-edged swords, enhancing military capabilities while raising questions about the ease of resorting to force. The paper highlights the operational advantages of drones over manned aircraft, including rapid deployment, reduced training requirements, and operational flexibility. This paper also explores the transformative role of drone technology in contemporary military operations and examines the impact of drones on the threshold of use of force in contemporary times. Following the thematic analysis of qualitative sources backed by quantitative data, this paper explores how drones have lowered the threshold for the use of force.
Ahmad Ali (Wed,) studied this question.