Russia Trains Malian Military In Use of Armed Multirotor Drones; Highlights Various Proliferation Pathways
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Note: The following text was originally posted on my X/Twitter account.
This video shows the Russian "Africa Corps" training the Malian military in the use of armed multirotor drones. It is important to keep in mind that there are multiple pathways for the diffusion of knowledge and experience regarding the use of these inexpensive strike munitions that are built using commercial off-the-shelf components. While a complete multirotor drone and the components required to assemble one—minus the high-explosive warhead—can be readily purchased online, knowledge and experience in how to effectively employ these cannot be readily acquired and purchased in the same manner. There are several pathways for the diffusion of knowledge and experience:
- Direct and "official" transfers of equipment and/or knowledge and experience on the part of a state. Both Russia and Ukraine are known to have made such transfers, primarily to local African combatants engaged in internal conflicts. State militaries can, of course, also train other state militaries in the use of armed multirotor drones.
- Transfers of knowledge and experience—not so much equipment—on the part of individual persons who were at one time or another working for a state military. This is likely to become a major issue going forward when Russia and Ukraine are forced to ultimately demobilize tens of thousands of highly experienced multirotor drone operators and technicians—as well as designers and individuals involved in the manufacturing process. While many will likely reorient themselves toward some sort of civilian job, some are very likely to offer their services to the highest bidder. By the standards of the world of international crime, it would not be out of the ordinary to, for example, see an ex-Russian drone operator and an ex-Ukrainian multirotor drone operator—who may have previously been hunting one another's units—working together for a Mexican drug cartel against rival teams of ex-Russian and ex-Ukrainian multirotor drone operators.
- Indirect, unofficial, and likely unintended transfers of knowledge and experience—not so much equipment—on the part of a state to individuals. Ukraine, in particular, employs foreign volunteers/mercenaries in its armed multirotor drone units. Recent reports suggest that some of the Colombian nationals fighting on Ukraine's behalf may have ties to Colombian drug cartels. With knowledge and experience residing in individual persons, it is possible that states accepting foreign nationals in their militaries will end up training individuals who signed up with the specific purpose of acquiring such knowledge and experience—treating the likes of Ukrainian armed multirotor drone training programs as a form of vocational education.
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