Lowy Institute The ungoverned sky: Drones and the domestic extremist threat
Apr 2, 2026
James Paterson, researcher and author on drone proliferation and extremist threats, breaks down how non-state actors adapted battlefield drone tactics. He walks through recent domestic plots, vulnerabilities at airports and critical sites, legal and technical hurdles for counter-drone measures, and why coordinated national action and pressure on manufacturers matter.
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Drones Evolved From Scouting Tools To Airborne Weapons
- Drone use by non-state actors evolved from reconnaissance to weaponised attack roles across groups like Hezbollah, Hamas and Islamic State.
- James Paterson notes ISIS professionalised drone ISR and jerry-rigged payloads, creating an asymmetrical airborne threat early in the 2010s.
Houthi Attacks Show Long Range Non-State Drone Impact
- Houthi forces extended non-state drone capabilities into long-range strikes affecting shipping and regional states.
- Paterson highlights Houthi attacks implicated in strikes on the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Red Sea shipping disruption.
Recent Domestic Plots Mirror Battlefield Drone Tactics
- Recent domestic plots include UK PhD students 3D-printing kamikaze drones and US plots targeting a pride parade and critical infrastructure.
- Paterson lists 2023–2024 cases showing domestic extremists mirror battlefield tactics at home.