Dragon Drones

GS Paper III Defense Technology

A deadly new weapon ‘Dragon Drones’ has taken to the skies in the Russia-Ukraine war.

What are Dragon Drones?

They are drones that release thermite that burns at 2,427°C.
- Thermite: It is a mixture of aluminum and iron oxide which on ignition by an electric fuse triggers a self-sustaining reaction that is difficult to extinguish.
- It was Developed a century ago to weld railroad tracks.
This molten metal is capable of burning through almost anything, including vehicles, trees, and even underwater objects, causing severe burns and damage to humans.
The drones carry and release thermite with high precision, bypassing traditional defenses.

World Wars: Thermite was used in WWI by German zeppelins and in WWII by both Allied and Axis forces for aerial bombing.
Modern Use: Thermite is now often employed in covert operations due to its intense but silent burn.

The use of thermite isn’t banned under international law but using incendiary weapons against civilian targets is prohibited under Protocol III of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons.
It can only be deployed against strictly military targets to minimise collateral damage.

Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons

The Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) is an international treaty that seeks to prohibit or restrict the use of certain conventional weapons that are considered excessively injurious or whose effects are indiscriminate.
It was adopted in 1980 and entered into force in 1983.
Key Provisions and Protocols:
- Protocol I: Prohibits the use of weapons that employ fragments not detectable in the human body by X-ray.
- Protocol II: Regulates the use of landmines, booby-traps, and similar devices.
- Protocol III: Limits the use of incendiary weapons.
- Protocol IV: Prohibits the use of blinding laser weapons.
- Protocol V: Addresses explosive remnants of war (ERW).
India is a party to all the five Protocols of the CCW and is committed to ensure the full implementation of its obligations under the Convention and the humanitarian principles that they exemplify.

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