The Russia-Ukraine war, raging since February 24, 2022, has redefined modern warfare. In July 2024 alone, Ukraine launched a swarm of 120 FPV (First Person View) drones to strike Russia’s Morozovsk airbase, damaging two Su-34 fighter jets, according to Ukraine’s Defense Ministry. Just a day ago, Ukraine launched a massive FPV drone attack on Russian Bomber Planes. In war, such tactics may seem necessary. But what happens after the fighting stops?
History whispers a warning: wars don’t end neatly. Weapons left behind become tools of terror. This time, it’s not just AK-47s or mortars—it’s smart, lethal, and cheap tech like FPV drones. Europe may soon face a wave of drone-enabled terrorism, and the cost of prevention will hit ordinary citizens hard.
Let’s break down this emerging crisis.
What Are FPV Drones?
FPV drones, originally hobby tools for racing or photography, are compact quadcopters controlled via goggles with real-time video feeds. They’re fast (60–100 km/h), have a short range (5–10 km), and cost anywhere from $500 to $2,000. But in Ukraine, they’ve become weapons. Armed with 1–3 kg of explosives—RPG warheads, plastic bombs—they can take out tanks, trenches, or even aircraft.
By 2024, Ukraine was churning out 50,000 such drones per month, per state defense group Ukroboronprom. In February 2024, a UK-led alliance pledged another 10,000 drones. The economics are brutal: a $1,000 drone can cripple a $3 million tank.
These aren’t sci-fi gadgets anymore. They’re battlefield-tested—and easy to repurpose. That’s what makes them dangerous.
History Repeats: From Cold War to Russia-Ukraine
History is full of leftover weapons wreaking havoc. In the 1980s, the U.S. armed Afghan Mujahideen against the Soviets with over 1,000 Stinger missiles, according to declassified CIA records. After the Soviets withdrew in 1989, and the U.S. pulled back, those arms didn’t disappear—they were repurposed. AK-47s, rocket launchers, and bombs spilled into conflict zones.
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Kashmir bore the brunt. In the 1990s, Pakistan-based militants used surplus weapons to fuel insurgency. Over 5,000 civilians died in terror attacks between 1990 and 2010, per India’s Ministry of Home Affairs.
Today’s version of that chaos is FPV drones—more advanced, easier to use, and harder to trace. The Russia-Ukraine war, seen by many as a U.S.-backed proxy conflict, is laying the groundwork for a fresh wave of destabilization. But this time it would be closer or in the heart of the West, it would be extremely difficult to call it a “disputed territory”.
Europe’s New Nightmare
Ukraine produced over 600,000 FPV drones in 2024 alone (Defense One). Add Russia’s numbers, and we’re staring at a massive surplus of militarized tech. When the war ends—by victory, stalemate, or truce—many of these drones will vanish into untracked hands.
Europe is particularly vulnerable. Open borders, crowded cities, and critical infrastructure make it a prime target. Imagine a $1,000 drone crashing into a packed train station in Paris or a football stadium in Berlin. The technology already exists; all that’s needed is an evil intent.
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This is not hypothetical—ISIS used drones to drop grenades in Iraq and Syria between 2016–2019, killing dozens, according to the UN. Ukraine’s newer FPV models come equipped with AI, night vision, and swarm coordination. These are not garage toys. They’re high-tech missiles in the wrong hands.
Why FPV Drones Are Hard to Control
AK-47s need muscle and skill. Stingers needed training. FPV drones? Just an internet connection and some free time.
Anyone can buy parts online, watch a YouTube tutorial, and strap explosives onto a drone. In 2023, Europol reported that illegal drone parts were selling for $10,000 per batch on the dark web.
Controlling this threat is a nightmare. Blanket bans are impractical—drones are vital to farming, logistics, filmmaking, and disaster response. Requiring registration for every $500 drone invites privacy backlash. Worse, black-market drones are untraceable—3D-printed frames, custom code, no serial numbers.
Defensive tech struggles to keep up. In a 2023 U.S. trial, jammers neutralized just 60% of swarm drones, per Pentagon data. While Israel’s Drone Dome intercepted 85% in tests, it’s costly and limited in scale.
India’s Response: Lasers and Counter-UAV Systems
India, no stranger to drone threats along its western border, has been ramping up defenses. The DRDO’s laser-based anti-drone system (DEW) can detect and disable drones within a 2 km radius using directed energy. These systems are already deployed at strategic locations like airports and military bases.
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In 2021, drones dropped explosives at the Jammu Air Force Station. Since then, India has fast-tracked development of DRDO’s Anti-Drone System, which includes radar, jammers, and lasers. But scaling this nationwide is a challenge—each unit costs millions, and coverage is far from universal.
The Hidden Cost: You and I Pay
Post-9/11, the U.S. ramped up airport security with body scanners, TSA agents, and screening tech. Today, that costs $10 billion annually (DHS, 2024). Airline tickets rose $5–10 to cover it. Stadiums, malls, and public spaces added surveillance and private guards. Visit any of the airports in India and see the massive security apparatus at play. Visit shopping malls, see something similar.
Now, with drone terrorism looming, even higher costs await. Just imagine an airport or a shopping mall with anti-drone systems installed. Anti-drone lasers (like Raytheon’s HELIOS) run $2–3 million per unit. AI radar, UAV interceptors, and anti-drone nets—all pricey. Who is going to pay for that extra cost? Consumers!! You and I!!
Europe’s inflation is already at 6.8% (Eurostat, 2024). Add security spending, and prices on flights, concerts, food, and services will climb.
Governments will hike taxes. Businesses will raise prices. The everyday citizen—you and I—will foot the bill to feel safe.
The Road Ahead
When the war ends, a flood of surplus drones awaits. Militias, arms traffickers, and radicals are already circling. Europol fears a spike in black-market drone trade, especially in conflict zones and ungoverned territories.
A drone terror wave may not be tomorrow—but it’s no longer unthinkable.
The key is to act now—before a rogue drone ends up in a London Tube, a Mumbai metro, or a Paris café.
The Russia-Ukraine war has normalized drone warfare at scale. What follows may be worse—a world where thousands of cheap, smart drones are up for grabs. The danger is real. The cost is personal. The solutions are complex.
Can democracies preserve liberty while building smart defenses? Can we afford to ignore this?
What’s your take? Share you thoughts!
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#RussiaUkraineWar #FPVDrones #DroneTerrorism #SecurityCost #IndiaDefends #LaserDefense
Thanks for reading!
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Wonderful article, Chetan! The way lay out the issue and connect the dots is amazing. You had me at “history whispers a warning”. The whispers for this warning are buzzing around the ears of policy makers. Will they pay heed to the warning? That’s something to watch out.
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