The Use Of Drones By Special Operations Forces
By John Oncea, Editor
SOF Week 2025 is set to underscore the critical role of drone technologies in enhancing situational awareness, improving efficiency, and ensuring mission success in military contexts.
Special Operations Forces (SOF) Week 2025, scheduled for May 5-8 in Tampa, is going on as planned despite organizer expectations of lower attendance due to recent U.S. Government travel restrictions.
“The event will bring together attendees from USSOCOM headquarters, U.S. SOF Command Team leaders, and government and military representatives from over 60 countries,” sponsors Global SOF and USSOCOM write. “The conference agenda will feature an incredible slate of senior leaders from across the global SOF network, and SOF Week remains a critical opportunity to advance force modernization, the value of special operations worldwide, and the importance of partnerships.”
The show creates an immersive environment where military professionals, defense contractors, and policymakers come together to exchange ideas and insights on future trends in tactical operations and security measures. Throughout the week, attendees will experience live demonstrations, interactive seminars, and technology exhibitions that highlight the latest advancements in special operations capabilities.
Visitors will have the unique opportunity to engage with experts who are leading the evolution of modern warfare. They can gain firsthand experience of real-world scenarios, advanced equipment, and new strategies designed to meet the challenges of today’s operational environment.
Networking opportunities abound at every turn, from the opening reception to exclusive sessions with senior leaders and innovators in the field. The event also features an annual awards ceremony honoring individuals and teams who have made significant contributions to the SOF community.
There Will Be Drones
Drone technologies will be one topic at the forefront of SOF Week 2025, reflecting their transformative impact on special operations. The event will feature unmanned aerial systems that integrate stealth design, navigation, and sensor capabilities to support complex mission profiles. These drone systems are revolutionizing intelligence gathering and redefining tactical operations in dynamic environments.
Attendees will have the opportunity to witness live drone demonstrations that showcase autonomous flight, rapid response, and seamless integration with ground operations. The exhibits will highlight how state-of-the-art drones perform reconnaissance, surveillance, and tactical strikes, providing a multifaceted solution to evolving defense challenges.
Experts will discuss the operational benefits and technical advancements that have made drone technology indispensable in the field of special operations. Presentations will cover innovations in flight control, real-time data processing, and robust communication systems that ensure reliable performance under adverse conditions. In addition to live demonstrations, interactive sessions will offer insights into the strategic applications of unmanned systems, allowing visitors to engage with developers and operators directly.
The Military’s Reliance On Drones
Drones come in all shapes and sizes, from our partner Teledyne Flir’s Black Hornet 4 – small enough for a dismounted soldier to carry on a utility belt – to large-scale surveillance and strike drones like Northrop Grumman’s RQ-4 Global Hawk and the MQ-9 Reaper, a high-altitude, long-endurance, remotely piloted aircraft with an integrated sensor suite that provides global all-weather, day or night intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capability.
Drones are also changing the way modern warfare is being conducted. “Drones, not the big, heavy artillery that the war was once known for, inflict about 70 percent of all Russian and Ukrainian casualties,” The New York Times quotes Roman Kostenko, the chairman of the defense and intelligence committee in Ukraine’s Parliament as saying. “In some battles, they cause even more – up to 80 percent of deaths and injuries, commanders say.”
According to The Times, drones now kill more soldiers and destroy more armored vehicles in Ukraine than all traditional weapons of war – sniper rifles, tanks, howitzers, mortars – do combined.
Drones armed with shotguns are now shooting down other drones.
Antiaircraft drones are being designed to take out surveillance drones flying higher in the sky.
Larger drones are being developed to serve as motherships for swarms of small drones, increasing the distance they can fly and kill.
“The Ukrainians make use of a wide range of explosives to arm drones,” writes The Times. “They drop grenades, mortar rounds, or mines on enemy positions. They repurpose anti-tank weapons and cluster munitions to fit onto drones, or they use anti-personnel fragmentation warheads and others with thermobaric charges to destroy buildings and bunkers.”
However, broader monitoring data tells a more nuanced story. According to Reuters, a United Nations monitoring mission reported that in January 2025 shortârange drones were responsible for about 27 percent of civilian deaths and 30 percent of injuries across the country.
These differences reflect variations in local conditions and combat dynamics. In hotspots where both sides deploy a high volume of drones for surveillance and targeted strikes, drones can disproportionately contribute to casualties. Meanwhile, in wider or more mixed combat zones, other factors – like artillery, rockets, and conventional small-arms fire – still account for a significant share of the overall death and injury toll.
The evolving nature of modern warfare means that drones, with their capacity for prolonged loitering and rapid response, are now key elements in both offensive operations and defensive countermeasures. Commanders on the ground are increasingly forced to adapt to a battlefield where the precision and persistence of drone strikes can inflict severe losses even as efforts are made to minimize collateral damage – including special ops.
How Special Ops Are Using Drones
Special operations forces have increasingly integrated drone technology into their operational toolkit, enabling greater situational awareness, precision targeting, and enhanced reconnaissance in complex environments. Both Navy SEALs and Green Berets are at the forefront of this transformation, using drones to support missions ranging from intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) to direct action in high-risk environments.
One of the most significant trends is the adoption of First-Person View (FPV) drones, Yahoo writes. These lightweight systems provide operators with a real-time, immersive view of the battlefield through specialized goggles, allowing them to navigate urban landscapes, caves, and tunnels where traditional surveillance is limited.
Recent reports indicate that Green Berets are actively seeking FPV drone capabilities to clear hostile cave complexes and enhance their ability to conduct covert reconnaissance in confined spaces. By using FPV drones, they can safely scout dangerous areas before inserting ground teams, minimizing risk to personnel while obtaining critical intelligence.
In parallel, special ops are exploring the use of drones in tunnel operations. New tactical concepts involve deploying small, agile drones that can operate in GPS-denied environments, providing real-time communication and situational awareness.
These drones can help teams map underground networks and identify potential ambush sites without exposing soldiers to unnecessary danger. This capability is particularly valuable in environments where enemy forces use subterranean passages to move undetected.
Intelligence Online adds lessons from overseas conflicts, notably the war in Ukraine, have influenced how special ops view drone technology. Former Green Berets are now training to become drone pilots and instructors, sharing their combat experience with allied forces.
In Syria, training programs led by ex-special operations personnel are helping Kurdish special forces learn to manufacture and pilot tactical drones. This cross-training not only boosts interoperability with partner nations but also accelerates the adoption of innovative drone technologies within U.S. units.
The integration of drones into special operations has provided commanders with a flexible, scalable tool that enhances both offensive and defensive operations. Drones enable precise targeting with minimal collateral damage and allow rapid adjustments during missions.
As technology continues to evolve – with improvements in autonomy, obstacle avoidance, and weaponization – special ops are expected to leverage these systems to maintain a tactical edge in future conflicts. By combining traditional combat skills with modern drone technology, Navy SEALs and Green Berets are redefining modern warfare, making operations safer and more effective in an increasingly complex battlespace.