Terrorism and National Security

Abstract

Drones have largely been used for a wide spectrum of combat and military missions. Recently, the exponential growth in the use of commercial drones for entrepreneurial business ventures has resulted in drones being used in a beneficial manner. This new technology, which has greatly impacted the aviation industry, provides a clean piece of clay which can be shaped or moulded by the imaginative user in a positive, useful manner benefiting society. However, the technology is also available for illegal use; for instance, by innovative terrorist groups and extremists and unmanned weapons which present a new level of proliferation threat. The many advantages presented by drone technology make such devices an appealing weapon choice for terrorist attacks which poses serious security threats. As the maxim ‘a diabolo, qui est simia dei’ suggests ‘where God has a church, the devil will have his chapel’. The focus of this chapter is the threat posed by terrorist groups using drones, particularly small model aircraft, to deliver mass destruction. A number of the advantages afforded using such devices will be outlined prior to considering some of the previous cases where terrorist groups have developed, or threatened to, or utilised remotely controlled aircraft as a tool in pursuit of their goals. Suggested preventative and counter measures to deal with the threat of terrorists using weaponised drones as well as the need for public awareness will also be discussed.