Swarm Drones and Missiles Hybrid Attacks: The New Age Warfare Strategy And Implications
Article by Debalina Ghoshal
When states apply newer techniques and strategies in warfare, it becomes imperative to identify the tactical and strategic advantages gained in the new mechanisms. This is because any warfare strategy that could overwhelm ‘defence by denial’ systems will not be a strategy confined to one state. It would be employed by other states in other regions to gain regional influence and fulfil their strategic and tactical goals.
Swarm hybrid attacks have become a new norm in warfare tactics. The Ukraine War, Operation Sindoor and now the Iran-Israel War are witnessing swarm hybrid tactics by using inexpensive drones for swarm attacks while also employing technologically advanced missile systems for gaining strategic and tactical leverage. The Indo-Pacific region is also not bereft of strategic implications that such modes of warfare could bear should they be employed in the region during any crisis situation. It is in this context that the article tries to understand the swarm hybrid warfare and how this new phenomenon is attracting the attention of regional powers.
SWARM HYBRID WARFARE
A swarm hybrid attack has included drones as an inexpensive means and missile technology for decapitation or destruction. Disruptive attacks have become a major constituent of warfare strategy. Saturation has become the key tactic for states. This could include attacks on counterforce and countervalue targets. While missiles can be intercepted, the interception of swarm drones is challenging because defensive systems would require swarm coordination. Air and missile defence systems become expensive technologies against countering drones.
Adversaries, especially with conventional strength inferior to the state’s conventional might with which they are in conflict, may resort to such technologies not only to overwhelm the adversaries’ technologies, but also to raise their cost of interception and thus raise the cost of warfare. With artificial intelligence (AI) and network-centric warfare, swarm drone and missile attacks are reaching the highest level of precision. This also provides drone systems the option of operating autonomously, as seen in Ukrainian drones that enabled the country to shift from human-in-the-loop operations.[1] Loiter capabilities of swarm drones coupled with missiles with counter-measures against air and missile defence systems make such hybrid warfare more technologically and economically challenging for adversaries.
Drones and missiles have become part of new forms of warfare, such as cloud warfare, which can result in data loss and disrupt the normal functioning of the economy. Drones are being used to attack data centres of corporate houses, and missile systems are backing such actions to wreak havoc, making kinetic warfare problematic and chaotic for civilian infrastructure. When states use inexpensive methods of warfare, they increase the asymmetrical feature in warfare by allowing cheap warfare mechanisms to dominate the battlefield, diminishing the combat value of expensive technologies.
This security architecture becomes more vulnerable when such asymmetric weapon systems become a major combat capability for non-state actors, which are funded by state actors to pursue foreign policy goals. For instance, Hezbollah is using drones provided by Iran against Israeli targets, which also include military targets.[2] Reports also claim that Hezbollah used drones against the UK’s Royal Air Force (RAF) base in Cyprus.[3] Drones are also the backbone of combat capability and of exerting regional influence for the Houthis of Yemen. Drones and anti-ship missiles have provided Houthis with anti-access area denial capabilities that they employ to dominate the Red Sea region.
During Operation Sindoor, Pakistan used swarm drones against counter-value targets, which also included townships.[4] In addition, they launched missile attacks covering multiple cities of India to cause collateral damage.
Ukraine is also using AI-controlled swarm drone tactics to overwhelm the Russian deterrence threshold. Initially, Swarmer technology was used to lay mines, but later on, they were used to target Russian infrastructure, military and equipment. [5] In addition, Ukraine has used missiles like the Army Tactical Missiles (ATACMs), Storm Shadows and FP-5 Flamingo missiles against Russian targets. Ukraine has used missiles to target logistical and supply chain targets that provide key components of missile systems or produce the missile systems.
CONCLUSION
Some technologies undermine deterrence, but ironically, these innovations are dominating the battlefield as inexpensive means to lower conventional thresholds, often leading to cataclysmic results. As such technologies proliferate, they are becoming the preferred choice for states with conventional military strength that is inferior to their adversaries. This dynamic creates a puzzling paradox in modern warfare where weaker states can leverage these advancements to launch attacks that might not have been possible in previous eras.
Drones, in particular, exemplify this trend. The advancements in drone technology have brought about significant changes in military strategy and tactics. These unmanned aerial vehicles are not just tools for surveillance; they are now potent platforms for delivering precise strikes against high-value targets. Their affordability means even nations with limited defence budgets can acquire and deploy them effectively, thereby challenging traditional notions of military deterrence. As a result, smaller or less militarily advanced nations can retaliate against powerful adversaries, showcasing a shift in how power dynamics are perceived on the global stage.
Moreover, the impact of these technologies extends beyond conventional warfare. The ability of states to conduct drone strikes has contributed to the erosion of non-traditional deterrence thresholds. In the past, the potential for catastrophic consequences often served as a powerful deterrent against initiating conflicts. However, with the availability of sophisticated yet inexpensive technologies, the stakes have changed. States may feel emboldened to initiate hostilities, believing they can do so without facing the full repercussions that a conventional conflict would typically entail.
This reliance on drone capabilities also raises ethical and moral questions regarding warfare. With the rise of autonomous systems, the line between manned and unmanned combat is becoming increasingly blurred. As drones take on more roles in military operations, concerns arise about accountability in the event of civilian casualties or unauthorised strikes. The nature of war is evolving, and with it, the justifications for military engagement and the legal frameworks governing combat.
In conclusion, while technological innovations are supposed to enhance deterrence, they simultaneously create new avenues for conflict by making military engagement more accessible to a broader range of states. The phenomena of drones and similar technologies may empower lesser military forces, but they also introduce complexities in maintaining peace and security. Future discussions on military capability, international norms, and warfare ethics are likely to focus increasingly on how to address the challenges posed by these emerging technologies and their effects on global stability.
Views are those of the Author(s)
[1] “How Ukraine is Using Autonomous Drone Swarms in Combat,” Tech Ukraine, September 3, 2025, <How Ukraine is Using Autonomous Drone Swarms in Combat · TechUkraine>
[2] Ahmed Khalifa, “Hezbollah launches 20 rockets, drone attacks against Israeli sites,” AA, March 8, 2026, <Hezbollah launches 20 rockets, drone attacks against Israeli sites>
[3] Dan Sabbagh, “Hezbollah said to have launched drone that struck UK RAF airbase in Cyprus,” The Guardian, March 2, 2026, <Hezbollah said to have launched drone that struck UK RAF airbase in Cyprus | US-Israel war on Iran | The Guardian>
[4] “Army foils Pakistan’s attempts to send swarm drones across LoC,” The Times of India, May 11, 2025,< Army foils Pakistan’s attempts to send swarm drones across LoC | India News – Times of India>
[5] Vladislav V., “Ukraine uses Autonomous Drone Swarm Against Russian Forces,” MILITARNYI, September 2, 2025, <Ukraine Uses Autonomous Drone Swarm Against Russian Forces>
