Publication

The US’ monopoly over armed and unarmed drones has ended, argue the authors of this report. Indeed, more than 30 nations already have or are developing the former and at least 90 state and non-state actors possess the latter. The problem, observe the authors, is that US policy has yet to account for this new reality. In response, America should 1) adapt its export and counter-proliferation policies to keep pace with shifting technology; 2) prepare for the use of weaponized drones against US forces and assets; and 3) actively shape the norms and ‘perceptions of legitimacy’ that will dictate the appropriate use of these systems.