Drones will be integral to Middle Eastern armouries
Thursday, March 17, 2022
Significance
Armed UAV use by Middle Eastern states and sub-state actors are becoming more frequent. However, interception rates have increased as defence technology evolves, and any damage that UAVs cause is limited.
Impacts
- The United Arab Emirates will join Turkey, Iran and Israel as a regional producer of UAVs.
- Counter-drone defences will become more effective and dominate regional procurement, research and design.
- If Iran agrees a nuclear deal, it may scale down support for non-state actors’ UAV programmes.