Cheap, mass-produced drones have permanently changed the face of warfare.
- Without them, Russia's overwhelming manpower and firepower advantage would grind Ukraine into dust.
- Without them, the Houthis are a ragtag militia in Yemen — not a force that brought global shipping to its knees.
- Without them, a sanctioned, isolated Iran couldn't inflict nearly as much damage to the most powerful military in world history.
Why it matters: Size no longer guarantees victory. Any nation, any proxy, any rebel group with access to cash and commercial components can now bleed a superpower slowly, expensively and without a clean answer.
