Drone incidents witnessed during the month demonstrated the presence of emerging innovative technologies, changes in tactics, and the increasing scale of UAS operations in military operations and in criminal activities as well.

In Ukraine, Kyiv stepped up their attacks against Russia and launched numerous UAS air raids targeting Russia’s energy sector. From 15 through 18 March, Ukraine attacked Russian oil production facilities using a wide range of large, fixed wing drones. The importance of drones to Ukraine’s military strategy was evidenced by Kyiv’s announcement it was their goal to manufacture 2-million drones in 2024.

Russia also continues to push its drone manufacturing and R&D efforts. A video taken inside a Russian factor in Tatarstan showed hundreds of fuselages for the deadly Lancet 3 UAV being readied for assembly. Images provided by Ukraine showed the Russians may have developed a new, collapsible fixed-wing loitering munition. And the Russians showed an innovative method to incorporate fiber optic cables to mitigate the effect of EW weapons on some small UAVs.

Although the Ukraine War remains the center of attention for UAS, the Middle East was also extremely relevant. In the Red Sea, U.S. CENTCOM is leading a multinational force to protect shipping lanes from Houthi-Movement rebels. In March, CENTCOM forces repeatedly engaged threatening UAS, missiles, and unmanned surface vehicles. This month CENTCOM forces intercepted approximately fifty-nine Houthi attack UAVs.

The criminal use of UAVs for smuggling and other illicit activities never stops. Individual crooks, criminal gangs, and the narco cartels are all using drones. In Arizona, a convicted felon attempted to use a drone to crash into a law enforcement helicopter. Criminals used drones for smuggling contraband into prisons in Georgia and also in Georgia, a law enforcement task force made over 150 arrests, as it broke up a criminal gang which was using drones for smuggling. Also of note, an arrest of a drug smuggler in London showed the value of forensic science in the fight against the criminal use of drones.

In attention getting remarks to the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, Gregory M. Guillot, the Commander of NORTHCOM and NORAD, stated there were over 1,000 incursions across the U.S. border with Mexico every month. While this number likely understates the actual number, General Guillot’s comments rightly emphasized the tremendous challenge facing Federal and local law enforcement efforts to protect the country from transnational criminal organizations using drones.