IC SERIES | The Exploitation of Drone Technology by Foreign Adversaries and Lessons from the Balkan Wars

In the modern realm of avionics, where technology drives innovation and dominance in the skies, infiltration has replaced invasion as the weapon of choice, making espionage a silent but formidable ...

In an increasingly interconnected world, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have reshaped global industries, from healthcare to agriculture. However, these advancements bring unparalleled risks when foreign adversaries like China exploit UAV technology for espionage and infiltration. This concern is not new; it is a modern iteration of a pattern we pioneered during the Balkan wars of the 1990s, where drone technology played a pivotal role in reshaping conflict dynamics. Drawing from historical precedents and detailed analysis, I authored a white paper 15 months ago that underscored these risks. I sent it to President Trump at Mar-a-Lago (Maybe that was intercepted along with my Education Reform one). The paper warned of vulnerabilities in modern drone systems, referencing data we collected during the Serbian war, and stressed the urgent need to secure the U.S. against similar tactics employed by adversarial nations.

The UN WFP had the head of their AG division, a CCP guy who handed out “free” drones globally from China, which means that all those nations have been compromised by way of a “logic bomb.” It’s pretty much Stuxnet, a sophisticated cyberweapon designed to target and disable specific industrial systems. Imagine how many critical infrastructures have been compromised with the interface software required by these “AG” drones where China can disable power grids, water systems can be poisoned, and more with a single push of a button or command.

Lessons from the Balkan Wars: The Strategic Role of UAVs

During the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia, drones became a cornerstone of intelligence operations. The United States deployed drones to monitor troop movements and political and critical infrastructure in Serbia, Croatia, and Bosnia. These UAVs, stationed in "mountain hangars" within Albania, were equipped with advanced reconnaissance technology that allowed us to observe and infiltrate the digital systems of opposing governments. Through the drone software, we gained access to Croatian, Serbian, and Bosnian government networks, collecting critical intelligence that shaped U.S. and NATO strategies.

This success was not accidental. It was facilitated by the integration of sophisticated data-collection systems into drone software. These systems allowed us to tap into the Balkan states' communication networks, databases, and military infrastructures. After all, the plan was to fracture them, and genocide was the byproduct. The intelligence gathered helped the U.S. guide military and diplomatic efforts in our favor. However, the operation also revealed how such tools could be weaponized to influence sovereign governments and control narratives. It was a testing ground. In some sick way, it was almost as if the war was triggered to see how effective such tools are, like the target practice Obama had with civilians in Northern Africa to kill innocent civilians while testing facial recognition and “gait identifying technology”.

Interestingly, during this period, the late Joe Biden, then-Senator Joe Biden, played a role in influencing U.S. policy in the region. While championing humanitarian intervention, Biden’s actions were to provide cover and facilitate some operational outcomes. In an unusual twist of diplomacy, Serbia later named a highway after the Bidens, maybe for his efforts to destroy them. This honor raised questions about the underlying motivations and outcomes of his engagement in the region.

The Modern Parallel: Biotech Drones and Foreign Exploitation

Fast-forward to today, the risks posed by drone technology have been magnified. Foreign adversaries, particularly China, have identified drones as a gateway for surveillance and infiltration. For example, Chinese firms like DJI embed themselves into critical sectors through partnerships with Canadian companies or direct engagement with U.S. industries. In biotech, drones are now used for life-saving applications like organ delivery, pioneered by companies such as United Therapeutics Corporation.

The same systems that facilitate innovation also create vulnerabilities that adversaries can exploit. ~Tore Maras

Drawing from the Balkan precedent, modern drones designed for benign purposes can be equipped with data-collection systems that extend their functionality into espionage. For example: