On February 22, 2024, the pro-Syrian Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), Al-‘Askari Media, published on Telegram a set of infographic posters titled “The Kamikaze – The Weapon That Will Change Future Wars.” The images inform the group’s fighters on how to avoid being targeted by “kamikaze” drones, also known as suicide drones.[1]
Eyeing Drone Use In Ukraine-Russia War
The introductory text reads: “Modern wars have witnessed the emergence of new weapons from the battlefield, especially with the rapid progress happening in technology. On top of these weapons is the ‘kamikaze’ suicide drone, which appeared extensively in the Russian-Ukrainian war. Recently, the conflict has been being defined by this terrifying new weapon of war. The video clips that document its use on the battlefield provide clear evidence that the future of war will be bloodier and more violent.”
A second poster underlined that this new weapon “represented a qualitative leap as a multi-use weapon. It replaced anti-armor missiles at a cost that is ten times lower” and as accurate as a sniper weapon in hitting its target. It is also as powerful, if not more, as mines and explosive devices, the poster states.
Discussing the new generation of this weapon, a third poster said the first-person view (FPV) or remote-person view, suicide drones, or so-called “Birds of Prey,” are manufactured cheaply compared with the weapons that are used to destroy them.
“A new generation of cheap and destructive effectiveness began to surface in the war in Ukraine. They are FPV drones, which are usually used for entertainment purposes, but the Ukrainians have used them for other purposes, and they have become a key weapon used by them and endorsed by their leaders.”
Integrating AI Into Suicide Drones
Citing a 2021 report by the U.S. National Security Committee on Artificial Intelligence, a fourth poster said that realizing the role of artificial intelligence (AI), the committee recommended doubling investment in scientific research in this field, year after year, so that its value would increase from $1.5 billion now to $32 billion by 2026.
Commenting, the poster said: “The report is not exaggerated about the significance of suicide drones and integrating artificial intelligence into them. We will be facing something that is impossible in the future.”
“Be Aware: Suicide Drones Have Arrived In Syria”
The rest of the posters alerted the group’s fighters that the suicide drones had started to appear in the Syrian war, and advised on how to avoid them, recommending: Camouflaging trenches and the entrances to tunnels and bunkers; creating decoy bunkers; concealing the roads leading to positions at the front; keeping vehicles away from fortifications, headquarters, camouflaging vehicles; refraining from movement when surveillance drones are flying overhead; camouflaging headquarters and operations rooms; Removing towers and other signs identifying the locations of positions; hiding in trenches and tunnels when drones are sighted; limiting communications to the bare minimum; speaking in code; and changing radio frequencies often.
[1] Telegram, February 22, 2024.