Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were once almost exclusively the preserve of militaries and government agencies, offering them intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and more recently strike capabilities. However, with the proliferation of UAV technology, capable systems are now easily and cheaply available to a variety of actors. Fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft fitted with GPS-based autopilots can be purchased commercially, as can payloads that offer operators HD-quality imagery - both daytime and infrared (IR) in many cases. Furthermore, these aircraft also have the ability to carry rudimentary offensive payloads. A number of paramilitary groups have gained access to UAVs that are often on a par with those deployed by modem militaries.
展开▼
