Reader Response Draft 1

 Drones have been used by military forces for decades, one of the earliest military drones, the MQ-1 Predator drone was deployed in conflicts from 1995 onwards (Morbi, 2011). However, a new breed of cheaper commercial drones has emerged.

In the rapidly changing landscape of modern warfare, commercial drones such as the DJI Mavic 3 Pro have risen to prominence, redefining how tactical operations are conducted. Drones with their flight times, range, remarkable versatility and cost – effective operational capabilities offer militaries a groundbreaking new advantage in reconnaissance and engagement.

 One such drone used in the conflict is the DJI Mavic 3 Pro. From the official DJI Webpage (DJI, n.d.) , the flagship model of the Mavic 3 line, priced around USD$2,000, offers a special 3-axis gimbal tri-camera system, a 360°-degree sensor suite. The tri – camera system contains a main 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad Camera that can capture up to 20 MP still shots and record footage up to 50fps with 2 additional telephoto cameras of 70mm focal length, gives a 3x zoom while the other, of 166 mm focal length allows the user to take footage at 7x zoom and at 4k60 resolution (Kurkowski, 2023). Additionally, 3 axis gimbals allow the Mavic 3 Pro to be a stable platform for photography and videography even throughout the maneuvering that the drone pilot might induce on the drone (Juniper, 2023). Together with a max flight time of 43 minutes and a transmission and flight distance of 15km and 28km respectively (DJI, n.d.), drones like the DJI Mavic 3 Pro proves to be a powerful tool on the battlefield.

With such capabilities, it gives military forces greater flexibility in how some operations, such as reconnaissance and fire support, are conducted (Kirichenko, 2024). According to an article published by WGCU (Myre, 2023), even if the commercial drones do not have in-built features to carry and drop munitions,  the forces involved in the conflict can easily modify the drones to carry a simple explosive and “can be dropped with great precision into trenches filled with troops, or directly into the open top of a tank” (Myre, 2023). This enables drones to damage or destroy extremely expensive equipment such as tanks and artillery pieces, preventing or hindering their deployment and use in offensive operations (Copp, 2024). Not only could such commercial drones provide such a terrifyingly accurate form of delivering munitions, the drones can be used for reconnaissance purposes with its range, flight time and camara functions. This reduces the need for the use of dedicated teams to perform reconnaissance and also enables the average personnel in the military to obtain valuable information such as the correction of fires or even identifying where the enemies could potentially be hiding.

Despite their impressive capabilities, commercial drones have some glaring shortcomings. Firstly, commercial drones in the battlefield have a limited range and flight time. For example, while the DJI Mavic 3 Pro can achieve a respectable flight time of 43 minutes and a transmission and flight distance of 15km and 28km respectively, on the battlefield with external interference it might only perform at a mere fraction of its potential. This means that the DJI Mavic 3 Pro is a rather short-range weapon operating at rather low levels, meant to be used directly by frontline units. Another shortcoming would be that electronic warfare systems used by the opposing force that could disrupt or even break up the link between the pilot and drone (Collett-White, Scarr, & Char, n.d.). While such systems are not commonly used on the frontlines where the DJI Mavic 3 Pro is used, smaller and more portable systems are being created with the intent of hindering the use of drones. Compounding on the issues would be the ease in which the location of the drone pilots can be identified. According to “DJI insisted drone-tracking AeroScope signals were encrypted — now it admits they aren’t” and “DJI drones, Ukraine, and Russia — what we know about AeroScope” written by Sean Hollister, AeroScope was meant to be a system that allows ease in finding the drones used in any malicious intent harming public safety. To enable this system to function, “every DJI drone broadcasts a signal that specialized receivers can use to decipher the drone’s position and the position of its pilot”. However, it has been revealed that there is no encryption of the signal. This means that anyone with the knowledge and expertise can easily tap into the signal, identifying the source (operator) and launch a counter strike mission to kill the operator.  

Thus, while commercial drones such as the DJI Mavic 3 Pro demonstrate commendable performances in its range, flight time, cost-effectiveness in operations and versatility, essential improvements are required in the aera of signal security and operational resilience towards electronic warfare. Only by addressing its shortcomings can it genuinely dominate in conflict zones.

References

Collett-White, M., Scarr, S., & Char, P. (n.d.). How drone combat in Ukraine is changing warfare. Retrieved from Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/graphics/UKRAINE-CRISIS/DRONES/dwpkeyjwkpm/

Copp, T. (April, 2024). Ukraine pulls US-provided Abrams tanks from the front lines over Russian drone threats. Retrieved from AP News: https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-abrams-tanks-19d71475d427875653a2130063a8fb7a

DJI. (n.d.). Retrieved from DJI Mavic 3 Pro: https://store.dji.com/sg/product/dji-mavic-3-pro?vid=137691

Hollister, S. (23 Mar, 2022A). DJI drones, Ukraine, and Russia — what we know about AeroScope. Retrieved from The Verge: https://www.theverge.com/22985101/dji-aeroscope-ukraine-russia-drone-tracking

Hollister, S. (29 Apr, 2022B). DJI insisted drone-tracking AeroScope signals were encrypted — now it admits they aren’t. Retrieved from The Verge: https://www.theverge.com/2022/4/28/23046916/dji-aeroscope-signals-not-encrypted-drone-tracking

Juniper, A. (25 April, 2023). DJI Mavic 3 Pro review: can the three-eyed drone see all you need? Retrieved from Digital Camera World: https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/reviews/dji-mavic-3-pro-review-can-the-three-eyed-drone-see-all-you-need#section-key-features

Kirichenko, D. (May, 2024). ANALYSIS: Future of Drones on Ukraine Battlefield. Retrieved from Kyiv Post: https://www.kyivpost.com/analysis/32482

Kurkowski, S. (11 May, 2023). Mavic 3 Pro first impressions: How did they make the best drone better? Retrieved from DroneDJ: https://dronedj.com/2023/05/11/mavic-3-pro-first-impressions-how-did-they-make-the-best-drone-better/

Lee, R. (May, 2022). Video of Ukrainian UAVs dropping small munitions on Russian troops in Kharkiv Oblast. X .

Morbi, J. (5 Dec, 2011). Modern Warfare: The Introduction of Predator Drones. Retrieved from E-International Relations: https://www.e-ir.info/2011/12/05/modern-warfare-the-introduction-of-predator-drones/

Myre, G. (May, 2023). A Chinese drone for hobbyists plays a crucial role in the Russia-Ukraine war. Retrieved from WGCU: https://news.wgcu.org/2023-03-21/a-chinese-drone-for-hobbyists-plays-a-crucial-role-in-the-russia-ukraine-war