A trove of documents discovered in a drone workshop and reviewed by the Combating Terrorism Center offer insight into the Islamic State’s current and future plans for the use of drones and other technology in its terrorism activities. Not surprisingly, the 30 pages reveal two key pieces in the puzzle about where ISIS goes next; the first is that the organization is fastidious in its documentation and preparations for acquisition of equipment and execution of attacks. Secondly, the papers reveal a relatively — though not surprising — low-fi approach to the weapons themselves. It seems ISIS is using readily available, consumer-grade technology, and retrofitting the devices with explosives and other modifications that make toys for hobbyists into something decidedly less fun. Some key takeaways from the New York Times' report and the papers themselves:
The documents were discovered by Vera Mironova, a research fellow at the Belfer Center at Harvard University. She found the papers while conducting on-the-ground research in Iraq.
The Islamic State has a history of being bureaucratic when it comes to record keeping — running the terrorist group very much like a business — and its drone program is no different. There are copious forms drone builders and operators must fill out to document their progress and success of missions.
The equipment is a mishmash of consumer grade tech, like GoPros, GPS units, standard memory cards, and cheap, remote planes, such as the Skywalker X-8 UAV, which can be purchased online for $193.15.
In the past two months, ISIS has used more than 80 remotely piloted drones in attacks against Iraqi forces and allies.
Iraqi officials say bombs dropped by the drones, most of which have been quadcopters, have killed roughly a dozen soldiers and injured more than 50. “It poses a threat to troops on the ground, and it has value as a propaganda technique,” said Col. John L. Dorrian, a spokesman for the U.S.-led fight against the Islamic State in Baghdad. “However, it’s certainly not a game-changer when it comes to the outcome of the battle to liberate Mosul.”
