In brief
- President Trump signed executive orders easing commercial drone regulations, prompting concerns from security experts about potential misuse.
- Experts warn that expanded drone access could increase risks of surveillance, terrorism, and swarm-style attacks on U.S. infrastructure.
- The Ukraine conflict illustrates how inexpensive drones can be weaponized, raising alarms about similar tactics being used against the U.S.
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump signed a sweeping set of executive orders aimed at deregulating commercial drones, flying cars, and supersonic jets—on a promise of “restoring America’s airspace sovereignty.”
But as the skies open to innovation, national security experts are sounding alarms: the drone revolution is already being weaponized.
From warzones in Iran and Ukraine to insurgent strikes in Africa and the Middle East, commercial drones are no longer just tools of progress—they’re now low-cost, highly effective weapons of war. The White House may see economic opportunity, but critics warn the U.S. is easing restrictions just as the world enters an era of autonomous aerial combat, where $300 drones can disable million-dollar aircraft and swarm attacks can overwhelm critical infrastructure. And worse.
Critics warn the new policies could accelerate a global arms race in autonomous aerial warfare—one already playing out with deadly effect around the world.
Drone attacks by terrorists and insurgent groups are on the rise:
- In January 2024, Iraq’s Islamic Resistance group attacked a U.S. outpost in Jordan.
- In May, RSF, an insurgent group in the Sudanese civil war, used drones to attack the airport in Sudan.
- The same month, a boat carrying the “Gaza Freedom Coalition” was struck twice by drones off the coast of Malta, starting a fire.
Ukraine, which spent over $11 million in cryptocurrency donations on drones, used that technology in an audacious sneak attack on June 1 when it launched Operation Spider Web, a coordinated drone strike targeting Russian airbases in Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ryazan, Ivanovo, and Amur.
Ukrainian forces used 117 modified commercial quadcopters—four-bladed aerial drones smuggled in freight trucks—and guided them using artificial intelligence and first-person view systems. The drones struck high-value aircraft, causing significant damage and highlighting the strategic potential of low-cost drone warfare.
On Thursday, Israel launched a preemptive strike against Iran in what was called Operation Rising Lion. In its arsenal were drones smuggled into the country by Mossad, Israel’s national intelligence agency. In fact, Mossad agents reportedly set up a drone base near Tehran, Iran’s capital, right under the noses of its Republican Guard. The drones struck surface-to-surface missile launchers aimed at Israel.
These real-world examples have U.S. officials and experts increasingly alarmed.
“National security leaders at the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security have raised concerns about the potential for Ukraine-style ‘Spiderweb’ swarm attacks on U.S. soil—low-cost, high-impact assaults targeting critical infrastructure like ports, refineries, and data centers,” Eric Brock, CEO of Ondas Holdings, an autonomous drone and counter UAV developer told Decrypt. “Public venues, such as stadiums and amusement parks, are also increasingly vulnerable; yet, many local agencies lack the necessary tools or legal authority to respond effectively.”
The co-chair of the Commercial Drone Alliance, who worked with the White House on crafting the drone executive order, Brock said the executive orders expanded flight-restricted zones, improved interagency coordination, and established a national drone training center—steps he said helped close key regulatory gaps. He added that the resulting clarity encouraged investment in drone safety infrastructure and enabled local agencies to adopt counter-UAS technologies with greater confidence.
While drones deliver crucial benefits, such as disaster relief, precision farming, and rapid medical transport, they also pose emerging risks.
“With increased deployment must come increased responsibility,” Brock said. “With proactive public policy and proven technology, we can build a safer, more resilient airspace while unlocking the full economic and societal potential of the drone era.”
“There are always questions and concerns around drone use, partly because of how they’re perceived,” Grant Jordan, CEO of drone detection company SkySafe, told Decrypt. “When an average person sees a drone in the air, the biggest concern is not knowing its purpose or who’s operating it. They’re remote, unlike traditional aircraft like helicopters, where it’s clear at a glance that it’s a police helicopter.”
While Airspace Link was one of the developers consulted by the White House on the drone executive order, CEO Michael Healander declined to comment on whether recent events like Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb were a part of the conversation.
“What I can say is that the executive orders clearly reflect an understanding that drone technology is transforming both commercial operations and modern conflict,” he said.
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