Author: 1st Lt Vinícius
In Brazil, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are widely known as drones or Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA). An RPA is an aerial vehicle in which the operator is not on board (unmanned), but is controlled remotely, from a remote piloting station, to carry out a certain activity or task (COTER, 2023).
Another commonly known term is RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems), defined as the set of means necessary to fulfill a certain task using RPAs, encompassing, in addition to the air platform, the payload, the ground control station, the data transmission terminal, the data link terminal, the support infrastructure and human resources (COTER, 2023).
According to ANAC (2017), ARPs are divided into three classes, according to the maximum take-off weight, in which the weight of the equipment’s battery or fuel and any cargo carried must be taken into account: Class 1 – Maximum take-off weight greater than 150 kg, Class 2 – Maximum take-off weight greater than 25 kg and up to 150 kg, and Class 3 – Model aircraft or RPAs with a maximum take-off weight of up to 250 g. However, within the Brazilian Army (EB), according to COTER/C Ex Ordinance No. 333 of September 26, 2023 (COTER, 2023), SARPs are classified into five category levels and three employment levels, as shown in Figure 1.
In terms of the number of propellers, drones are classified as fixed-wing, single-rotor or multi-rotor (tricopters, quadcopters, hexacopters and octocopters). In other words, according to the above classifications, there is a range of possibilities for the dual application of drones.
In the military field, the use of drones represents a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that is redefining the nature of modern warfare. On the international stage, researchers and the military have used the term dronization to refer to the proliferation of drones or drone warfare.
In recent years, we have witnessed a silent, technological revolution in conflicts in the Eastern world, such as Ukraine, Russia and Israel. General Sun Tzu, in his work The Art of War, highlights the importance of knowledge, surprise and adaptability on the battlefield, meaning that these principles are equally relevant to the use of military technologies.
Drones with cameras attached to their structure have proved useful in the context of psychological and information warfare waged in parallel with combat. The constant threat of drones deeply destabilizes troop morale, creating a climate of terror. On the information side, the images captured allow for decentralized communication that is widely disseminated on social networks. Through the images captured, the Ukrainian and Russian governments have developed extensive disinformation campaigns (JANCOWSKI, 2023).
Ukraine, immersed in a prolonged conflict with pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country, has used drones significantly in its military operations. One of the notable pieces of equipment is the Bayraktar TB2 model, manufactured by the Turkish company Baykar at a cost of US$5 million. With a payload of 150 kg, it operates continuously for 27 hours, at an average speed of 200 km/h and an altitude of 7,600 meters (BAYKAR, 2024).
The use of dual technology has been evidenced in Ukraine. Civilian octocopter drones (eight engines), due to their low cost, have led to a significant increase in the capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AF). Using 3D printers, Ukrainian programmers have developed methods of bypassing Russian tracking mechanisms with radio signals. The fixed-wing Punisher drone, with an average speed of 72 km/h, can be operated at a distance of 48 km from its control point, and at an altitude of 400 meters. It is characterized by being silent and undetectable by radar. Equipped with cameras, when it positions itself over the target, it drops its single six-kilogram bomb with an accuracy of 3.5 meters. Compared to the prices of other ARPs, the cost is relatively low, around US$ 196,000 (RODRIGUES, 2022).
Russia has also invested massively in drone technology. The Forpost-R model, developed by the Ural Civil Aviation Plant (UZGA), has a flight range of 18 hours, a range of 400 km, a maximum take-off weight of 500 kg and an operational ceiling of 6,000 meters. On March 13, 2022, the Russian FA used the Forpost-R with guided missiles to destroy a Ukrainian army multiple launch rocket system at an altitude of 3,000 meters (ARMY RECOGNITION, 2022).
Meanwhile, in Israel, the development and use of drones has been an integral part of the country’s defense strategy, most notably the Hermes 900 drone. With an autonomy of more than 30 hours, it can fly at an altitude of 9,100 meters, with a payload capacity of 300 kg. In Brazil, in December 2021, the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) officially placed an order with AEL Sistemas for two Hermes 900 drones.
In 2022, the EB received the RPA model Nauru 1000C, acquired from XMobots, a Strategic Defense Company based in the municipality of São Carlos (SP). The drone has a maximum take-off weight of 150 kg, a speed of 110 km/h and an autonomy of 10 hours, with the capacity for day and night operations. The drone is an octocopter and uses independent batteries, allowing it to take off and land in critical and confined environments. In March 2024, the 1st Army Aviation Battalion (1st BavEx), in partnership with the Army Evaluation Center (CAEx), began the operational evaluation of the NAURU 1000C.
The trend is for the Nauru 1000C to be deployed in various regions of the country. However, it should be noted that the Amazon region has an operational environment characterized by dense forests and adverse climatic conditions, such as sudden, intense and high-intensity rainfall, as well as a vast geographical area. These factors will require a series of tests to be carried out in order to ensure that its flight capacity and data collection and transmission are consistent.
Also in 2022, the Army Aviation Command received 34 ARP units, 30 of which were DJI Mavic 2 and four were Matrice 300 RT, capable of detecting low-light targets, with cameras capable of zooming from 32 to 200 times, a flight autonomy of 30 to 50 minutes, and a range of 10 to 15 kilometers, respectively (TECNODEFESA, 2022).
In July 2023, the Brazilian Army Commission in Washington (CEBW) launched a Request for Information (RFI) for the acquisition of Loitering Munition, known as kamikaze drones. These models are self-destructing, as they are used as ammunition. The ARPs should have a range of up to 10 km (Category 1) and up to 40 km (Category 2). The purchase includes the supply of control and launch simulators, explosive charges, as well as training in Brazil for the military personnel who will operate the equipment (MERGULHÃO; ASSAD, 2023). The potential global suppliers and the respective models of Loitering Munition that could be acquired by the EB are: Skystriker, from Elbit Systems (Israel); Switchblade, from AeroVironment (USA); CH-901, from the Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (China), and Hero, from UVision (Israel) (MERGULHÃO; ASSAD, 2023a).
Despite the advantages observed, drones have raised a number of ethical and legal concerns for international bodies, as the ability to carry out precise and surgical strikes can be overshadowed by the possibility of causing collateral damage to the civilian population. In addition, the anonymity and relative distance of drone operators can reduce accountability and increase the risk of abuses and human rights violations.
Finally, it should be noted that the use of drones by both civilians and the military allows non-state actors and paramilitary groups to acquire attack and defense capabilities, which were previously exclusive to the AF. This creates a relative asymmetry of power, as insurgent groups, terrorists and militias can challenge and threaten nation-states and conventional defense and security forces. Thus, in particular, the Special Border Platoons, located on the fringes of neighboring countries, can be targets for reconnaissance and surveillance missions, requiring the deployment of anti-drone systems, as well as in other sensitive points and areas of strategic interest in the Amazon.
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About the author: 1st Lt QAO MARCUS VINÍCIUS GONÇALVES DA SILVA
1st Lt QAO VINÍCIUS, born in Apucarana/PR, joined the ranks of the Army in 1991, in what was then the 30th BIMtz. Originally from the Infantry, he graduated from the Weapons Sergeants School in 1994. In his more than 33 years of service, he served in the CFR/7º BIS (Boa Vista/RR), 30º BIMec (Apucarana/PR) and 27º B Log (Curitiba/PR). He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Administration from the State University of Paraná (2003), a Specialization in Public Management from the State University of the Midwest of Paraná (2013), a Master’s degree in Planning and Public Governance from the Federal Technological University of Paraná (2017) and a PhD in Administration from the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (2021). Since 2021, he has been with the Amazon Military Command (Manaus/AM) and currently works as an Analyst at the Strategic Studies Center of the Strategic Planning and Integration Section.
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