DRONES AS A TOOL FOR OBTAINING

INFORMATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OPERATIONS IN THE

LAND OPERATIONS BATTALIONS.

Intermediate II

(Put your name as a student)

ID
1,094,911,984
1,053,340,523
1,015,439,755
1,072,659,666

Research line: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Tutor Professor
Anderson Castro
Co-supervisor professor

Bogotá, D.C. October 5, 2021

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Dedication
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Centered dedication text, paragraph length.
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Acknowledgments
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Centered text of gratitude, extending two paragraphs.

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BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD
CENTER OF MILITARY EDUCATION
Combined Arms School
Intermediate Course II.
SPECIALIZED ANALYTICAL SUMMARY -RAE-
1. General Information
Type of document Research proposal, innovation, research
Academic program Intermediate II
Library - Remember to authorize its partial or total publication in the
Access to the document
institutional repositories
DRONES AS A TOOL FOR OBTAINING
Document Title INFORMATION ON OPERATION DEVELOPMENT
IN THE GROUND OPERATIONS BATTALIONS.
TE. SALAMANCA SANCHEZ MIGUEL
TE. TORRES PULIDO NICOLAS
Author(s)
TE. ROMERO HERNANDEZ DIEGO
TE. MUÑOZ MUÑOZ ANDRES
Thesis advisor Anderson Castro.
Publication
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)
Keywords
Generations of War
2. Description
Drones are tools that have an increasingly tailored flexibility to military needs and the
development of surveillance and reconnaissance operations in areas of interest; therefore, the Armed Forces of
Everyone is devising various strategies to employ this type of capacity as one of its components.
tactical as it allows ground troops to execute maneuvers, through a clear understanding of the threats to
short distance. To this end, this project aims to present the variety of tools used in the
current events such as drones for special tactical level missions, what would be the best elements to be
employees in the Colombian territory.
3.Sources
. Jiménez, Pedro (2011) Unmanned aircraft for reconnaissance and aerial surveillance, design and construction of
an unmanned aerial vehicle Navigator X-2, 07, ESUFA & University of San Buenaventura.
. Pedraza, Nelson; Parra, Julio; Vaca, John; Bravo, Pedro & Cerón Hernán (2016) Design and Manufacture of
Solar – Powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle for Civilian Surveillance Missions, University Foundation the
Libertadores - Faculty of Engineering - Aeronautical Engineering.
. Dinesh, M; Santhosh, S; Sanath, Shetty; Akersh, K & Manoj, K (2018) Development of an Autonomous
Drone for Surveillance Application, Kanataca (India), International Research Journal of Engineering and
Technology.
. Velasquez, Marco; Seebach, Swen & Torrejó, Pedro (2019) Drones and epidemiology: the technologization of the
surveillance, Barcelona (Spain), University of Barcelona.
. Valdiviezo, Carlos (2020) Use of drones in the Peruvian Army as a strategy for operations
land recognition of the cavalry weapon, Lima (Peru), Command of Education and Doctrine of the Army.
. Study on unmanned aerial vehicles and their applications
University of Valladolid.
. Nuñez, Manuel (2016) Integration of UAVs in the technical slope and procedures for artillery fire
Zaragoza (Mexico), University of Zaragoza.
. Pérez, José; Roquero, Juan & Peraza Timothy (2019) Applied computational intelligence to surveillance with a
drone fleet, Montevideo (Uruguay), University of the Republic - Faculty of Engineering.
. The Future Threat of UAVs and NANO-UAVs in Air Defense
(Mexico), University Center of the Defense – General Military Academy.
. Ibañez, Juan & Coronel Boyd, John (2021) Operations with UAV in the Navy, Spain, Ministry of
Defense.
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4. Contents
This research project aims to implement technological tools for obtaining
intelligence information, update of geographic information systems, reducing the impact
of the troops themselves in the search for that information. To achieve this objective, this project seeks to: analyze the
issues that arise in the operations area, historical background of technological elements
implemented for the search for information, technical and tactical requirements of the technological tool
What is desired to be implemented to provide us with better results, examples of the use of drones in areas
specific, conclusions and relevant recommendations for carrying out this type of projects taking into account
How can the implementation reduce the impact on the troops themselves in the area of operations? Thus
the way seeks for the units of the National Army to have such technological tool would be a
evolution in the development of military operations as we would be taking a step towards the future in the
implementation of non-military manufacturing technologies, but with benefits for the same force.
5. Research Method
A bibliographic or documentary research will be conducted to gather the necessary information for the
Development of the project 'Drones as a tool for obtaining information in development'
operations in the battalions of land operations." This type of research is chosen because it will
select, compile, organize, interpret, and analyze relevant information on the project topic, about
different documentary sources such as books, documents, files, audiovisual records, etc.
6. Main expected results of the research/innovation
The main result is to impact the Army Command from the academic environment of the School of Arms.
Combined (ESACE), providing the recommendation and encouraging the use of tools such as drones
conventional with specific characteristics for the execution of military operations and planning in the
development of the command procedure step number five (5) conduct the reconnaissance; which would allow
reduce the risks and the margin of error affecting the personnel of Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, and Soldiers in
first line that surgically develops operations against organized armed groups
illegal and their illicit activities such as drug trafficking. With these innovations, the figures are reduced
affects due to landmines, snipers, and ambushes by the enemy, reducing spending on
recovery from the impact of landmines to provide well-being to personnel, improving our
technology and logistical support in the combat area.
7. Recommendations for implementation
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles from the different forces became a perfect complement for the
manned operations and for the objectives of the military forces which allow to protect the life of our
men and civilians can access remote and critical places, reach greater heights, have greater
flight autonomy and take high-quality photographs and provide real-time information on risks and
existing threats on the battlefield, therefore the intention of this project is to propose the implementation
of this type of capabilities for the execution of military operations on the ground.
Prepared by:
Reviewed by:
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction 1

Justification 3

1. Approach of the research/innovation problem 6

1.1. State of the Art. 10

1.2. Objectives 13

1.2.1. OGeneral Objective 13

1.2.2. Ospecific objectives 13

1.3. Delimitation and limitations 14

2. Marco referential 15

2.1. Purpose of UAVs 15

2.2. Research and development. 16

2.3. Restrictive use of UAVs 16

2.4. Multidimensional use of UAVs 16

2.5. Strategic impact of UAVs 17

3. Method 21

3.1. Methodological Approach 21

3.2. Procedure 22

3.2.1. Cschedule 22

3.2.2. Ppopulation and characteristics 23

3.3. Categorization 23

3.4. Instruments 24

3.4.1. Sselection of documentary sources 24

3.4.2. Einterviews with UAV operators 24

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3.4.3. ESurveys of Subaltern Officers Students of the ESACE 24

3.5. Validation of instruments 24

3.6. Project risks and impacts 25

3.7. Committed products and researchers 25

4. Budget 26

References 27
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TABLE LIST

Table 1 Main related research.....................................................11

Table 2 Selection of participating staff...............................................................23
Table 3 Categorization.............................................................................................23
Table 4 Risks and impact of the project.........................................................25
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Introduction

The present project is built to achieve the gathering of information.

intelligence, terrain analysis, and study of the different meteorological factors in
real-time to the commanders of ground combat units for planning and
execution of military operations using drones as a technological tool in
the operational process of the different units of the Army. For the execution of
the project will include accounts from different members of the institution that currently
they serve as unit commanders in different areas of operations where
they mention the main factors that affect the acquisition of the required information
for the development of operations.
The designers currently work at the institution, and have performed
functions as unit commanders in the different areas of operations, therefore
They have been participants in the identification of the problem.
The ground combat units of the Army are deployed throughout
of the national territory's extension, covering areas of difficult access and that in some
cases have a complex development of public order, additionally in the
development of military operations, within the operational environment are found
established the mission variables (MFE 3-0, 2017), which consist of the mission, the
enemy, the terrain, the climate, the troops, and the available support. The mentioned variables are not
they are evidenced in the same way in the different regions of our country, thanks to
to have a variety in both different biological aspects and in relation to
the social.
In the development of military operations, a large number of have been perpetrated
impacts on the National Army, which have represented a loss
significant both in lives and resources, events of that magnitude have been of great
relevance to ensure that currently the institution is within a process of
transformation primarily led by doctrinal change according to the emergence
from the standardization of the dogma in order to bring together as an institution the different
forces of the countries that are active members in the Atlantic Treaty Organization
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North (NATO), however within that transformation there are processes that require
technological innovation to ensure an optimal evolutionary process.
The project is composed of 4 chapters, within which will be detailed the
methodology employed for its development. To begin, the first chapter provides the
information corresponding to the project, the objectives to be met, besides that,
it will cover the delimitation and the main limitations, in addition to this, the
objectives that are expected to be met; the second chapter deals with the
background, the historical and referential framework of the general topic of all the factors that
they favor the development of military operations through the use of drones; the third
chapter presents the methodological approach, the procedure applied for the development of
project, schedule of activities to be carried out, likewise seeks to emphasize what type of
the population will benefit from the implementation of this project; to conclude, we
will propose a budget required for the fulfillment of this project,
considering different variables that can affect it.
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Justification

Within the evolution of war, control of technological means is

fundamental in order to be at the forefront, in the case of the National Army, is
it is necessary to enhance the success of the decisive action, reducing the impacts on
personal. That is to say, the project seeks to implement technological advancements that support
in the development of military operations.
In other words, there is a desire to implement the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
Manned (VANT) or Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV for its acronym in English); which
In Colombian doctrine, they are recognized as Remotely Piloted Aircraft.
(ART) or Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA for its initials in English); which means that
flies without crew. commonly referred to as Drone.

Drones in Colombia
As the year 2005 passed, the Colombian Air Force, a pioneer in the
The incorporation of UAS in Colombia provided for the use of drones, specifically the drone
"Scan Eagle" acquired from the United States, which conducts all its operations in
open field carrying out surveillance, reconnaissance, prevention of
natural disasters, detection of illicit crops and deforestation, supports missions for
capture and disarm people outside the law, search for kidnapped individuals, carry out
operations against illegal mining and intelligence work where attacks have been prevented
terrorists by the armed groups that exist in Colombia against the Caño oil pipelines
Limón Coveñas and Bicentenario strategic assets of the country.
This speaks of how important these devices have become for
national security as they have been responsible for thwarting criminal actions. The
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles of the different forces have become a complement.
perfect for manned operations and for the objectives of military forces
They allow us to protect the lives of our men and civilian population, keeping in mind the
high figures of personnel affected by a main factor such as landmines,
They can access remote and critical places, reach greater heights, have greater
flight autonomy and take high-quality photographs.
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This is one of the reasons why the implementation of our is justified.

The project demonstrated during the use of drones in Colombia has been achieved with
success in capturing and demobilizing individuals outside the law, seizing war material,
destroy, coca labs, detect illegal mining and send alarms about spills and
possible attacks on pipelines.
The "operational benefits" that tactical drones provide for the Force
Military forces are complementary to their use in the development of operations against the
Organized Armed Groups (GAO) and Organized Criminal Groups (GDO)
who, through their criminal activities, using explosives, ambushes,
snipers, observation and listening groups, and a countless number of irregular actions that
They deserve the anticipation of their movements through the use of technology. That is to say, with
the implementation of this type of drones is able to reduce the distance between the advantages
of the enemy concerning the vulnerabilities present in the execution of the maneuver,
because it facilitates the anticipation of enemy movements in the target area.
Another factor that is essential to consider is its use in Intelligence, Surveillance and
Recognition; bearing in mind the fact that the favoring in the operations of
Intelligence is largely a significant advantage for mission success.
mainly by being able to identify the device and strength of the opponent in different
operations, such as in the case of special operations.
Tactical drones in surveillance are extremely effective, allowing
easily identify potential threats that move or develop
criminal activities; their maneuverability, stealth, and observational skills allow them to
drones, quickly establish and at great distances the existence of possible risks
that compromise the functioning of critical infrastructures, such as networks
electrical, pipelines, roads, among others.
Likewise, the drones used for reconnaissance allow for more flexible use and
allows for the identification of safe zones to which troops can arrive or move,
avoid the surprise of threats. It is essential to remember that there are variables in the
terrain that can generate a military advantage or disadvantage for one's own troops, which
could be instrumentalized through the use of drones and in that way continue having a
advantage over the opponent, anticipating the advance of the troops.
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The use of this technology in sixth-generation wars has involved a step

gigantic to the modernization of the conflict, which will allow the Armed Forces and
mainly to the Army to optimize resources, time and effort for the development of the
operations.
The importance of this project is that if it is executed, it will allow the prevalence of the
military advantage over the opponent's, thereby achieving new opportunities for the
neutralization of the structures of the GAO and GDO that commit crimes in the national territory, already

that the troops located on land require technological systems that allow them
enhance their capacity and provide tools for risk search and detection
short-range threats.
Over the last decade, governments around the world have been acquiring
increasingly larger fleets of unmanned vehicles to meet the requirements
urgent and long-term military actions. National security and appeal agencies of the
law, as well as civilian buyers, have also been purchasing more and more drones
for a variety of purposes.
Unmanned vehicles are ideal for performing tedious, dirty tasks,
dangerous: robots don't mind flying around in the sky for dozens of hours and
they can operate in military and civilian environments, without risking a pilot's life
human. Most UAVs are still modeled after airplanes or helicopters, but the
Various shapes and sizes are becoming increasingly diverse. Designs derived from airships.
they are also making an impressive comeback, just like ISR platforms
stationary as well as itinerant, and other more exotic forms are being developed.
Unmanned systems are attractive in times of restrictions
budgetary because they tend to be cheaper compared to the solutions
crewed. Their comparative cheapness and the fact that they are not crewed as well
they mean that they are more dispensable. Sometimes, they even provide services that would be
prohibitively expensive or which will not be possible to offer in any other way, for
example, in tactical reconnaissance. Another advantage is that UAVs can be built
to remain airborne for a long time, like beyond the
crew resistance on board.
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Although the future of unmanned systems seems ensured, they are not exempt
of disadvantages and vulnerabilities. While they are often cheaper alternatives to the
manned solutions, the costs of unmanned aerial systems are approaching those of the
manned systems at the upper end of the spectrum, due to their equipment or technology
increasingly sophisticated, like stealth. In addition, drones are currently designed and
mainly for specific requirements, where manned aircraft often
they can serve multiple functions and therefore could be more cost-effective. Although it is
likely that this will change over time, UAVs cannot compete with aircraft
manned combat at this time. Therefore, it is unlikely that they will be deployed in
airspaces in dispute, which limits their use to crises and more asymmetric conflicts or to
situations in which air defenses have been neutralized.
In fact, drone operations in the so-called 'denied airspace' is a
key challenge for the next generation of UAVs. Making UAVs stealthy,
simultaneously send a large number of UAVs to overwhelm the defenses (the so-called
"swarm"), or using cheap and therefore expendable drones are options that have been
presented, but the developers are still unsure how to proceed (Warwick,
2012).
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1. Framing of the research/innovation problem

The issue centers on the fact that in the operational units that carry out tasks
tactics on the ground, do not have Intelligence, Surveillance and
Effective and short-range recognition (ISR). On many occasions the immediacy of
operations make it necessary to use available elements at hand for the
development of such activities. The advantage of using drones in the Forces
It is already more than proven about the military; but its main flaw is that it is only
being used for the development of special operations. What limits their use
in other types of activities, such as the operations of the battalions
ground operations.
What has been said so far justifies the need for drones capable of
being employed at the tactical level, primarily to generate a military advantage for the
troops through their use in ground operations. The Intelligence capabilities,
Surveillance and Recognition provided by drones in the tactical environment facilitate their
operability. But at the same time, they have some disadvantages when providing this.
service to the Land Operations Battalions.
One of the problems, of course, is its lower speed compared to the
modern jets. This also makes them less interesting where airpower is needed.
with little notice. However, even here the developers are making progress with a
team of researchers developing the smallest supersonic jet engine to date
now, to use it in a UAV.
Without direct knowledge of a pilot's situation on board, there are
obvious concerns about the ability to react to unexpected circumstances and
perhaps the possible loss of communications between the drone and its operator. This explains the
severe restrictions in force regarding the use of UAVs in civil airspace and the
existence of efforts to improve autonomous technologies of 'sense and evidence'.
The UAVs, however, do not only pose technical problems. Some of the opportunities
The operations you present also raise ethical and legal questions.
The proliferation of unmanned vehicles, particularly armed ones, has catalyzed
intense ethical and legal debates. Some criticize the use of armed drones in all
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areas, for example, the physical, psychological, and emotional distance of the operators of
drones in combat zones. Critics argue that the greater the physical distance and
The psychological relationship between the soldier and the enemy could negatively affect their moral judgment.

and leave the operators 'without psychological impacts' and ready to 'do things that
they will never do.

Others respond, however, that UAV pilots could be more affected.

psychologically when they attack targets that the pilots flying manned aircraft that
they drop bombs on a quick entry and exit: the UAVs often hover
about the objectives during hours, and the operators can sometimes get close-up views
of their areas of interest and, at times, to obtain clear images of the consequences of a
attack to verify the success of the mission.
In fact, advocates of the use of drones emphasize the real ethical advantages and
potential of UAVs. Operators can behave more ethically than the
personal placed in the line of fire, precisely because they are not physically present in
the theater of operations. Decrease in stress levels, absence of personal danger
and less susceptibility to strong emotions that cloud judgment can make that the
operators' decisions are more rational. The traces of the UAVs also
they can easily monitor and record, which increases accountability. Additionally,
due to their ability to fly low to the ground and approach potential targets, the
drones can improve the ability of armies to distinguish between civilian and military targets.
military. UAVs can also loiter above targets and attack when
collateral damage is less likely. Furthermore, the deployment of drones can avoid the
introduction of ground forces, resulting in fewer casualties and refugees.
That said, the increasing likelihood that unmanned systems may
acting autonomously in the future is broadening the ethical debate. Researchers from
everyone is working to increase the autonomy of robotic systems to
increase the operational pace and reduce the burden on the operator. Unlike the
current versions, the armed autonomous UAVs would be technically capable of locating
objectives on their own and decide to attack them without human intervention. A question
it is important to ensure that autonomous systems act ethically,
particularly when making life or death decisions. Some argue that ethics
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It could be programmed into the systems, which makes it impossible for them to participate in behaviors.

unethical and illegal. Such systems could potentially behave more

ethics that humans, partly because they would not be influenced by emotions, like the
revenge and fear. Due to a low need for self-protection, they also wouldn't have to
resort to answers of "shoot first, ask questions later." In fact, the systems
they could take great risks and potentially sacrifice themselves to protect the lives of the
civilians. However, a significant challenge for this ethical programming arises from the
complexity of the decisions that must be made on the battlefield; decisions with which
that even humans have difficulties. Autonomous systems would have to act
in unpredictable situations for which their programming does not necessarily prepare them
I would prepare. Moreover, once drones become fully autonomous, their
programming would make them inherently independent, which would make it very difficult to
assignment of responsibilities for their actions. Unlike humans, UAVs
self-employed individuals could not be held responsible for unlawful acts, and the lack of accountability and

clear accountability could increase the prevalence of unethical behaviors

in times of war.
This project aims to enhance technological tools for the
obtaining intelligence information, for this the acquisition of drones is proposed as
tool that allows for the execution of intelligence tasks.
Building on the above and based on Article 217 of the
Political Constitution of Colombia. "The Nation shall have Armed Forces for its defense"
Permanent military forces made up of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force.
The Military Forces will have as their primary purpose the defense of sovereignty, the
independence, the integrity of the national territory and the constitutional order." Our
constitutional mission decrees us to defend the national territory from all groups that are
find themselves on the fringes of the law, for this reason we must be proactive in obtaining the
intelligence information.
The platoons that carry out different military operations in the area of
operations have significant limitations in the search for information about
intelligence and outdatedness of the cards with which these operations are carried out;
Due to the constant change of vegetation, climate changes affecting lakes, rivers, among others
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other changes that can be observed. On the other hand, the records that are made in the
military operations development can result in enemy impacts due to
mined fields, ambushes, prepared areas, among others. That is why the evolution of
the war must be constant and apply all the technological tools available
by hand to make them a cohesive element between humans and technology.
The use of a drone as a means for the previously explained objectives.
makes the tasks of intelligence gathering and information systems updating
geographical, without risking the integrity of members of the national army.
the clearest and most accurate option, since the device would be operated by a
ground operator, said drone has a range of between 2 and 5 kilometers depending on the
aerospace legislation that allows it (considering that records are made in
rural areas of the national territory.
At the moment the pilot starts to raise the drone, from the remote control which
you can observe on the ground what the drone is seeing from the air, already in this
The operator has a field of visibility that is much broader than what they are seeing.
land around it, at that moment it is possible to determine what the characteristics are of the
land and make better decisions depending on the mission that each unit has. It
the next step is to determine which are the most critical points for making an approach to
drone and take photos or videos to be able to extract all the information from the area in general.

Depending on its reference, the device has an average speed of 30 km/h.

approximately. This allows moving from one point to another more quickly than what
A ground reconnaissance team could do it; on the other hand, it would be exposing itself.
much less the troop, since if the drone is detected, it is not known from what point it is
being piloted.
The proliferation of unmanned vehicles, particularly armed ones, the war
it will always be changing and it is in our hands to have the military advantage
comparison with the enemy, that is why whenever possible include a tool that helps us
The best decision must be made and employed from that military advantage.
How can technological resources be enhanced in order to seek
intelligence information, update geographic information and minimize the
impacts on the troops themselves?
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1.1. State of the Art.

In order to provide theoretical support to the problem posed in the research.

I have aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of the research related to the use of
tactical drones on the battlefield will identify the main advancements achieved
to date in the areas of knowledge to guide research to generate a
new knowledge.
Therefore, below we will analyze the available scientific information about
the theme, with the aim of confirming that there is indeed a gap in knowledge and
use of tactical drones in military operations; for this, a
systematic search of the scientific literature that would allow to demonstrate the progress of
scientific knowledge in this field. It is worth clarifying that the authors will be included.
most recognized in the use of drones in military operations, just like the
main components and elements of research.
Here, we will start exploring some related research that has
allowed identifying the potential that drones have on the battlefield; these
Investigations are observations both at the national and international level.
mainly through the most reliable source of information that currently exists
related to the topic like the one obtained with the Atlantic Treaty Organization
North.
Likewise, we will identify its functionality and the functional approach in the
operations of the strategic, operational, and tactical levels, through their use in the
international conflicts. Therefore, in the table main investigations related
each of these investigations is presented and the following aspects are presented
relevant to each of them.
 12

Table 1 Main related investigations

CITY/ EDITORIAL/
YEAR AUTHOR TITLE
COUNTRY JOURNAL/DOCUMENT
Ibáñez, Juan &
The operations with UAV in the Ministry of Defense
2021 Colonel Boyd, Spain
Fleet Spanish
John
Use of drones in the Army
Valdiviezo from Peru as a strategy for the Education Command and
2020 Lima, Peru
Carlos reconnaissance operations Doctrine of the Army
land of the cavalry weapon
Velásquez,
Marco; Seebach, Drones y epidemiology: the Barcelona University of
2019
Swen & Torrejó, technologization of surveillance Spain Barcelona.
Peter
Pérez, José; Intelligence computational University of the
Montevideo
2019 Rock Thrush, Juan & applied to surveillance with a Republic - Faculty of
Uruguay
Peraza Timothy drone fleet Engineering.
Dinesh, M;
Santhosh, S; Development of an Autonomous International Research
Karnataka,
2018 Sanath, Shetty; Drone for Surveillance Journal of Engineering
India
Akersh, K & Application. and Technology
Manoj, K
Study on unmanned aerial vehicles Valladolid
2017 Israel García University of Valladolid
manned and their applications Spain
Pedraza, Nelson;
Design and Manufacture of Solar University Foundation
Parra, Julio;
Powered Unmanned Aerial the Libertadores –
2016 Cow, John; Colombia
Vehicle for Civilian Surveillance Faculty of Engineering -
Bravo, Pedro &
Missions Aeronautical Engineering.
Hernán Cerón
Integration of UAVs in the talus
Zaragoza
2016 Nuñez, Manuel technique and procedures for the University of Zaragoza.
Mexico
artillery fire
The future threat of UAVs and University Center of
Zaragoza
2015 Álvarez, José NANO-UAV in defense Defense – Academy
Mexico
anti-aircraft Military General.
Assembly Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Secretariat
Treaty Organization
2012 Parliamentary of Opportunities and challenges for the International
of North Atlantic
NATO alliance l
Unmanned aircraft for
recognition y surveillance
ESUFA & University of
2011 Jiménez Pedro aerial, design and construction of Colombia
Saint Bonaventure
an unmanned aerial vehicle
Navigator X-2
Note: Preparation based on information from various research sources.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: opportunities and challenges for the alliance

NATO drones (or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)) are key assets of
intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), a category identified at the Summit of
Lisbon in 2010 as one of the 11 most critical needs of the Alliance. The UAVs have
profoundly changed the nature of the battlefield in the 21st century. UAVs have
a great demand from the commanders in the field and, as technology
mature and progress, drones will take on new roles, not only in the Army, but also
 13

also in national security in law enforcement and commercial enterprises. The

UAV technology not only offers new opportunities; it also presents challenges and harbors
potential threats. Decision-makers must take into account the
possible use of unmanned vehicles by terrorists or hostile regimes (NATO, 2012).
The strategic impact of highly advanced UAVs must be considered in the
international relations; analyze the most strategic implications of developments in
the capabilities of UAVs, the tactical and strategic opportunities they present for
operations in the battlefield and for non-traditional operations such as fighting
against terrorism. Therefore, this includes the discussion on the use of targeted attacks
outside of active combat zones. Given that an increasing number of States
allies, friends, and partners, as well as potentially hostile states and non-state actors,
They are trying to acquire armed drones (NATO, 2012).
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1.2. Objectives
Below, the general objective and the specific objectives will be listed.
project aimed at achieving the development of the same, as well as specifying a guide
during its execution as this helps to define the scope

1.2.1. General Objective

Identify the capabilities of tactical drones as tools for the

obtaining information in the development of operations in the operations battalions
land forces of the National Army of Colombia.

Specific Objectives

Establish the characteristics, nomenclature, and components of tactical drones that

they will be employed by the Army in the development of operations of the Battalions of
Ground operations for short-range ISR missions.
Identify the capabilities of drones in the development of military operations
short-range terrestrial.
Define the importance of drones in ISR missions during ground operations.
short range.
 15

1.3. Delimitation and limitations

We have considered to delineate and limit in detail the present process of
investigation in the following manner; firstly, it has been temporarily defined that the
The research will focus on studying the military drones that are used in the
current affairs, specifically those that have been developed or that are being employed in
military operations in the last ten years.
Likewise, in the spatial delimitation it was considered necessary to establish
specifically that the research will be directed towards the drones used by the
NATO and its member or partner countries. In order to explore the components and capabilities
employees in their operations, experiences, and mainly the use in the different
operations; as is the case with its use in the development of military operations in
international conflicts. Likewise, the scope of the research seeks the
population support of the National Army in military operations at the level
national.
In the same way, a bibliographic-type research will be sought to be conducted or
documentary, to collect the necessary information for the development of the project "Drones"
as a tool for obtaining information in the development of operations in the
battalions of ground operations." This type of research is chosen because it is going to
select, compile, organize, interpret, and analyze information relevant to the topic of
project, about different documentary sources such as books, documents, archives,
audiovisual records, etc.
 16

2. Referential framework

Nowadays, UAVs serve many roles and missions in the service of actors.
military, national security, law enforcement, and civilians. The military is currently
the main operators of unmanned aerial vehicles, with military drones that
they fulfill Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) functions or light attack.
The UAVs used for ISR purposes range from small tactical drones to drones
high-altitude and long-endurance tactical UAVs, known as reconnaissance UAVs, such as the
Raven, are used by the troops in the field to learn more about their sector
immediate. Medium-sized drones, such as the Predator or the Reader, carry out missions
ISR at the operational level. And high-altitude UAVs, such as the Global Hawk or the stealthy one.

Sentinel can provide strategic intelligence. Drones have skills for the
combat, like the armed versions of the Predator or the Reaper, carry out attacks against
relatively light ground targets.
In order to understand the classification of drones, it is necessary to know what they are like.

identified according to NATO and thus focus their distribution. "NATO divides UAVs into
three classes according to their weight. Class I, less than 150 kg; class II, between 150 and 600, and class III,

more than 600 kg. Within class I, it is distributed into three categories: small, greater than 15
kg, mini, under 15 and micro, with an energy less than 66 joules” (Ibañez & Coronel
Boyd, 2021).

2.1. Purpose of UAV

In addition to ISR and attack roles, today’s military UAVs serve for a
multitude of other purposes. They are used in the fight against explosive devices.
improvised (IED for its acronym in English), although with variable success. Drones also
they are ideal for marine surveillance, which requires long-term coverage of large
areas. Increasingly, logistical support is also being provided by systems.
robotic.
 17

2.2. Research and development.

Other significant research and development efforts are underway. In the
In the future, UAVs will transmit airborne communications and collect intelligence.
in electronic warfare operations. Drones could also contribute to the
psychological operations such as (dropping pamphlets in crisis regions that otherwise
they would be inaccessible), medical evacuation or the detection of chemical devices,
biological, radiological or nuclear.

2.3. Restrictive use of UAVs

The potential of UAVs in non-military applications is great. However,
currently, strict regulations are applied to the use of unmanned aerial vehicles in the
national airspace. In general, states restrict its use for non-commercial purposes,
they impose low ceilings and prohibit the use of drones around air traffic areas
heavy. Many states are currently reviewing their regulations to achieve a
more complete integration of UAVs into national airspaces. Two questions
challenging, however, are how to protect the privacy of citizens and how
address security concerns. While the former requires tackling
ethical and legal issues, the second will be facilitated through greater development of
software and countermeasures to counteract control by GPS signals
falsified (what is referred to as "spoofing").
There are some exceptions to the rules that restrict the use of drones in space.
national air, and government institutions are already operating a limited number
of the UAV.

2.4. Multidimensional use of UAVs

Due to natural disasters, drones have also been used to support the
search and rescue operations and conduct damage assessments. Other areas of
obvious applications include firefighting, agriculture, freight transport,
cartography and exploration, and scientific research. They have even argued that
non-governmental organizations could use drones to gather evidence of
abuses against human rights.
 18

Just as UAVs support missions in the Military Forces

Colombians, repressive or hostile regimes could use drone technology from
a way that supports their objectives. Therefore, the activities in the field of the
unmanned technology must be closely monitored, However, in the short term and
in the medium term, the potential use of drones by terrorists could be even more
worrisome. In the future, the possibility of drone-type weapons cannot be ruled out.
explosives, weapon systems or even biological, chemical or radiological material.

2.5. Strategic impact of UAVs

The extensive acquisition programs mentioned above underscore the
the fact that many nations see drones as crucial military assets. Enough
It should be pointed out that, no matter how much the use of drones outside of theaters of operations is criticized.

traditional; obtaining similar operational results using alternatives

manned, in those cases where this could be achieved, would undoubtedly be more controversial.
In other words, drone operations seem to create operational opportunities that,
although far from being politically 'free', they can be less controversial than those
manned alternatives for both the operating nation and the nation where it is being conducted
carrying out the operation. It can certainly be stated that the leaders of some
nations are willing to turn a blind eye to the use of drones rather than to a manned system
that performs a similar function.
Additionally, it seems that drones pose a lower risk of civilian casualties, which
add one more discriminatory instrument to the spectrum of available possibilities for the
decision-makers.
The essential point is that drone attacks open up possibilities.
operational, but decisions about their use require careful assessments and judgments
difficulties that involve legal, ethical, and political considerations. Drones are not
simply a new technological asset in the toolkit of military hardware; to
by acquiring such systems, nations would do well to prepare to face these
broader considerations.
 19

Undoubtedly, UAVs already have a direct and significant impact on the

operations and missions, which will increase over time, but looking towards the future,
What could be the broader strategic effects of UAVs?
In international diplomacy, information is a crucial factor. Therefore, in
In the field of ISR, drones could have a significant strategic impact. On one hand,
they could provide earlier and more accurate threat recognition, by
example, in the detection of illicit activities, such as human trafficking or smuggling
of weapons. Another area where ISR drones could be very useful is verification: to
through the deployment of drones, it could be much more difficult to cheat in the
arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation measures or ceasefire agreements
and of peace.

Perhaps the most important questions, however, relate to the impact

strategic of armed UAVs. In times of peace, the weapon systems are
tools for the art of governing. More specifically, they are instruments of
coercive diplomacy, that is, the threat or use of force by a state or
an alliance to achieve certain objectives. Coercive diplomacy is divided into two
categories: deterrence and mandatory. Deterrence can be defined as 'discouraging the
enemy of taking military measures by presenting a cost and risk perspective that
super your prospective gain" (Snyder, 1961). The obligation, on the other hand, is "the use
of threats to manipulate the behavior of others to stop doing something
not desired or do something that they were not doing before" (Morgan, 2003). What is
So what is the potential impact of armed UAVs on deterrence and obligation?
It could be said that the possession of advanced combat UAVs reduces potential costs.
from a threat of force (Fortmann & Von Hlatky, 2009): An aerial drone campaign
against an aggressor could, in principle, be carried out without putting any operator at risk.
This, in turn, would increase the credibility of a threat: the party that wants to deter or
forcing the other party would be more likely to carry out the threat if it is
provoked. Of course, in situations involving potential adversaries of greater or
less similar, the impact of drones will likely be small, because
they would probably only play a small role in such confrontations. However
embargo, in more asymmetric situations its impact could be greater.
 20

Can armed drones change the calculations of non-state actors such as the
terrorist groups? The goal of the campaign is not, possibly, to force the organization
to completely stop their terrorist actions, but to reduce their capacity to carry them out
such plots. In fact, many wonder if the religiously inspired terrorists
They can be dissuaded or compelled at all, as they have no political objectives.
limited. However, it is possible that the drone campaign could have a
more limited deterrent effect in the sense that the groups that have not been involved in
global terrorist actions could concentrate their forces on more immediate targets,
how to overthrow local regimes. Groups with more political objectives may be more
susceptible to deterrence if they know that their leaders could be killed by attacks with
low-cost unmanned aerial vehicles.
The strategic impact of armed drones on deterrence and obligation
the weakest states depend, to a large extent, on the issue of how effective is the
air power to deter or compel states. Many analysts are cautious about this
theme, arguing that very often "boots on the ground" are necessary to
forcing the other party to meet the goals. Many have argued that the
tolerance for casualties in war, especially in democratic countries, has decreased,
reducing the utility of threats of force. The use of armed drones could alleviate
this called 'body bag effect'. If drones could provide the possibility to carry
an air campaign with few or no victims, targeting, for example, objectives
strategic or even to the leaders themselves, then potential aggressors could
think twice before your actions. Historically, however, the temptation to achieve
"Cheap victories" have often turned out disastrous, for example, in the two wars.
worldwide (Morgan, 2003). In other words, states could miscalculate the
effectiveness of an aerial drone campaign aimed at forcing an opponent to
to yield, which could lead to massive policy failures.
In summary, it seems clear that drones, both armed and unarmed, could
have potentially significant effects on international diplomacy. Still, it cannot
denying that their employment raises a variety of ethical and legal issues. Issues of this
they are not qualitatively new, as similar debates have taken place regarding
many other advancements in weaponry as its trend is to increase, the separation
 21

between the operator and the potential victim. Certainly, discussions about the impact of the
the so-called "button-pushing war" dates back to World War II. Now
It is the moment for all nations that are adding drones to their capabilities.
explore the past and present precedents so that they are fully aware of the
obvious operational advantages of such systems, while having a complete legal framework
for your use.
 22

3. Method

A bibliographic or documentary investigation will be conducted to collect the

necessary information for the development of the project 'Drones as a tool for the'
obtaining information in the operation development in the operations battalions
terrestrial”. This type of research is chosen because it will select, compile,
organize, interpret and analyze relevant information related to the project topic, about
different documentary sources such as books, documents, files, records
audiovisuals, etc.

3.1. Methodological approach

The approach is qualitative because, in addition to documentary and bibliographic analysis, it

they are going to conduct interviews with individuals who have knowledge and experience in the use of
tactical drones in the different military units, related to the topic of analysis. The
the method to be used is inductive, because it goes from the particular (interviews) to the general (analysis)

general, broad). The technique that will be used is interviews and their instruments,
they are questionnaires with open-ended questions.

In this way, it is necessary to establish that the criteria that determined the
sample selection is defined by the direct contact with the UAVs used for the
development of missions that are part of the direct connection with neighboring states. To such
it becomes necessary to establish operators who use UAVs in ISR missions, that
In one way or another, they dedicate their efforts to guarantee the security and defense of said.
strategic assets.
During the investigative process developed prior to the interview, a ...
questionnaire that will systematically delve into basic and advanced concepts
of managing connectivity.
It will be sought to at least meet the basic minimum of the experience they have.
having the different operators to interview; who have experienced the use of
these tools, addressing at least 5 UAV operators. In the same way, it
generate a survey with the Junior Officers who are currently
 23

They are developing a Command and Intermediate course to learn first-hand.

your experiences and thus obtain a necessary source of information for the process of
research.

3.2. Procedure

The development of the research will take place in 4 main phases: the first
called 'collection of biographical and documentary information', will allow to identify
all the documentary sources for the development of the research; the second phase
called 'interviews', will seek out UAV system operators in order to learn
their experiences through the use of UAV systems, the third phase will be called
surveys, which aim to identify the perception of the members of the force
public face to the spindle of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles; and finally in the fourth phase
called "conclusions and recommendations". The estimated time for the
The development of this project is 10 months, counting from its approval.
3.2.1.Timeline
Below is the schedule for the development of the research in a
a period of 10 months, as follows:

ACTIVITIES ENE FEB MAR ABR MAY JUN JUL AGO SEP OCT NOV DIC

PHASE I - Establish the

characteristics
nomenclature y
components of the
tactical drones that
they will be employed by him
Army in development
of operations of the
Battalions of
Ground operations
for ISR missions to
short range.
PHASE II - Identify
the capabilities of the
drones in development
of operations
ground troops from
short range.
PHASE III - Define the
importance of the
drones in missions
ISR in operations
short terrestrial
scope.
PHASE IV –
Conclusions y
recommendations
 24

3.2.2. Population and characteristics

Here the person who will participate in the research process will be listed.
The selection table for participating staff has finally been developed.

Table 2 Participant Personnel Selection

Procedure
Characteristics
Participating persons Why were they chosen? used for your
Important
election?
Professional in Sciences Evaluation of
TO SALAMANCA SANCHEZ MIGUEL Arms: Infantry
Military knowledge
Professional in Sciences Evaluation of
TE TORRES PULIDO NICOLAS Arma: Infantry
Military Knowledge
I pray to you, Hernandez Diego.
Professional in Sciences Evaluation of
Arma: Engineers
Military knowledge
Professional in Sciences Evaluation of
TE MUÑOZ MUÑOZ ANDRES Arms: Infantry
Military knowledge
Note: own elaboration

3.3. Categorization
In order to categorize the preliminary analysis of qualitative research, it
has determined a tight framework that identifies each of the specific objectives in
the structure such as establishing the characteristics, nomenclature, and components of the
tactical drones, identify the capabilities of drones in the development of operations
military and define the importance of drones in ISR missions on the battlefield.

Table 3 Categorization

Categories of
Specific Objectives Subcategories Instruments
Research
Establish the characteristics, nomenclature and
components of the tactical drones that will be
Selection of
employees by the Army in the development of
Qualitative Bibliographic sources
operations of the Operations Battalions
documentaries
terrestrial for short ISR missions
scope.
Identify the capabilities of drones in the
Interviews with
development of ground military operations Qualitative Interview
UAV operators
short range.
Survey to the
Officials
Subalterns who
Define the importance of drones in the they develop a course
ISR missions in land operations of Qualitative Analytical
of Command or
short range.
Intermediate in the
School of Arms
Combined.
Note: Table 1. Description of research categories and subcategories. Source: own elaboration
 25

3.4. Instruments

The instruments for collecting information and data determined

they select the detailed information related to the research topic and the framework
theoretical. The selected instruments were the Selection of documentary sources;
Interviews with UAV operators; and survey of the junior officers who develop
Command or Intermediate Course at the Combined Arms School.

3.4.1.Selection of documentary sources

Identification among Colombian military doctrine, NATO, and that of the States
United, elements of judgment that allow for supporting the use of UAVs in the areas of
operations. Likewise, determine the existing documentary experiences with success and
failure of its use in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

3.4.2. Interviews with UAV operators

Select UAV operators who perform ISR functions in order to

identify method, techniques and processing used in the development of operations
military in the areas of operations.

3.4.3. Surveys of Junior Officers Students of the ESACE

Establish through properly directed questions the perspective of use

tactical ISR drones for troop support in the operational area. In order to
to highlight its advantages and disadvantages.
 26

3.5. Instrument validation

An evaluation of each of the instruments will be developed, under the concept of
of specialists and/or experts in the field of knowledge and a final concept by
intermediate of an expert in research methodology.

3.6. Risks and impacts of the project

The main risks that the proponents have will be recorded in the following table.
identified that could impact the execution of the project and the activities or points of
control for its mitigation. This information is necessary for the development of the project.
Table 4 Risks and impact of the project

Risk Cause Effect Impact Action to take

Not being able to Due to the I generate delays in the Impact on quality Identify staff
find deployment compliance of of the project available and
UAV operators operational of schedule interview them from
available for the the units in virtual way.
development of the the territory
interviews national
Personal Due to the little It generates delays in the Impact on reach Print surveys
surveyed no internet access compliance of in order to
count on the to systems schedule elaborate them, in a way
possibility of technological physics
develop
surveys
virtual
Source: Technology Directorate DITEC (2021)

3.7. Committed products and researchers

In reference to the typology of the products of MinCiencias, the following are determined
products resulting from the activities of the research group: result product
of activities for generating new knowledge, a book resulting from research.
 27

4. Budget

In order to define the budget needed to carry out the research; it is

to clarify that this research will not require the investment of economic resources on the part of
from the National Army or another entity, it is therefore necessary to establish that the values that

The following will be related, they will have zero costs.

UNITY VALUE QUANTITY VALUE

PHASES RESOURCE JUSTIFICATION
MEASURE UNIT ACQUIRE TOTAL
PHASE I Documentary Omitted Time month N/A 1 00
PHASE II Interviews Omitted Month time 900,000 3 $1,800,000
PHASE III Analysis Omitted Time month $4.500.000 3 $13.500.000
PHASE IV Written report Omitted Labor work $2,000,000 1 2,000,000

TOTALS $17,300,000
 28

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