Eugene Miasnikov, Threat of Terrorism Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Technical Aspects, Center for Arms Control, Energy and Environmental Studies at MIPT, Dolgoprudny, June 2004, 26 pages. Translated into English - March 2005. PDF file (0.54 Mb)
Experts and media have been discussing the potential use of UAVs for terrorism for some time. Until recently, this threat was considered to lie primarily in the conversion of anti-ship cruise missiles or small manned airplanes to land attack missiles. Previous studies focused on threats from so-called "states of concern" rather than non-state actors. A broader spectrum of possible terrorist uses has been addressed since September 11, 2001.
Experts point to a set of advantages that may make UAVs seem attractive to terrorists:
- Possibility to attack targets that are difficult to reach by land (cars loaded with explosives or suicide terrorists)
- Possibility of carrying out a wide-scale (area) attack, aimed at inflicting a maximum death rate on a population (particularly, through the use of chemical or biological weapons in cities)
- Covertness of attack preparation and flexibility in choice of a UAV launch site
- Possibility of achieving a long range and acceptable accuracy with relatively inexpensive and increasingly available technology
- Poor effectiveness of existing air defenses against targets such as low-flying UAVs
- Relative cost effectiveness of UAVs compared with ballistic missiles and manned airplanes
- Possibility of achieving a strong psychological effect by scaring people and putting pressure on politicians
No incident of UAV employment in a terrorist attack has yet been reported. However, media reports reveal that terrorists are actively studying this means of delivery.
Certainly, preparing and conducting a terrorist UAV attack is much more difficult than such frequently used methods as mining buildings and cars or using suicide bombers. Nevertheless, the 9/11 events, when terrorists captured airliners with passengers and used them as huge cruise missiles to attack buildings in New York City and Washington, D.C., have demonstrated that it is necessary to be prepared to repel "high-tech" threats as well. For this reason, it seems expedient to examine the technical capabilities of UAVs to deliver terrorist weapons.
Threats from terrorist UAVs first became an issue of concern for the U.S. government after September 11, 2001. The growth of this concern is underlined in statements by official representatives of intelligence community. In particular, former CIA Director George J. Tenet stressed in his testimony before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in February, 2004: "Many countries remain interested in developing or acquiring land-attack cruise missiles, which are almost always significantly more accurate than ballistic missiles and complicate missile defense systems. Unmanned aerial vehicles are also of growing concern." The problem of cruise missile and UAV proliferation, and how to face this threat, became the subject of attention in Congress, the departments of defense and homeland security, and other U.S. agencies.
Unfortunately, terrorism became a grave reality in Russia, and UAV use by terrorists may be an even greater threat than in the U.S. To many readers, UAVs may seem too exotic, demanding substantial efforts and costs compared with the methods terrorists frequently use. But science and technology is developing so fast that we often fail to recognize how much the world has changed. Moreover, the appearance of new public services such as Internet, cellular communications, Global Positioning System (GPS) makes society more vulnerable. Therefore, we often miss a chance to react to emerging threats in a timely fashion.
Does the Russian government understand the threat from terrorist UAVs? Has it assessed this threat? Does it have a strategy for prevention? This issue is not discussed in the domestic media, so neither the public nor the author can answer those questions.
This report assesses the technical possibility of UAV use as a delivery means for terrorists. The analysis shows that such a threat does exist and that it will grow. The author also considers areas that require higher attention from government agencies. This report is also targeted at the Russian public. Terrorist activity can be prevented only through the coordinated efforts of the government and civil society. The government cannot efficiently fight terrorists without the active involvement of the population. The first step toward creating such an alliance is to recognize the threat and its potential consequences.
The study has been conducted in the Center for Arms Control, Energy and Environmental Studies at MIPT with a support of Ploughshares Fund. The author is indebted to Prof. Anatoli Diakov, Dr. Gennady Khromov, Dr. Nikolay Chistyakov, and experts, who preferred not to be mentioned, for consultations during work on the project and criticism of early drafts of the report.
The electronic version of the report is available in PDF at the Center's web site (0.77 Mb). The author would appreciate getting questions, comments and criticism on the subject discussed.
See also:
- Our Comment: Terrorists Develop Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (On 'Mirsad 1' Flight Over Israel), December 6, 2004.
- Terrorist Mini-UAVs: Technical Assessment of Capabilities, Presentation at the 16th Summer Symposium on Science and World Affairs, Beijing, July 17 – 25, 2004 -- slides
- Unmanned Aerial Vehicles as Tools to Deliver Terrorist’s Attacks: Project Goals, Presentation at the 15th Summer Symposium on Science and World Affairs, Moscow, July 23 – August 1, 2003 -- slides
Contact Information
Center for Arms Control, Energy and Environmental
Studies,
Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology
9, Institutski per., Dolgoprudny, Moscow, Russia, 141700.
Phone: +7-095-408-6381,
Fax: +7-095-408-4477
Click here to send email
http://www.armscontrol.ru