From anthropocentrism to network-centricity: Drones as a tool for transforming modern warfare

Modern wars are characterized by the widespread use of unmanned aerial vehicles, the main combat missions of which are performed by unmanned aerial vehicles. The practice of using drones has been widely studied within the framework of modern military science, at the same time, the specifics of conducting network-centric warfare using remote weapons are currently not fully understood, which determines the relevance of the ongoing research. The novelty of the study is to identify and describe the process of transformation of the classical (anthropocentric) concept of war into a network-centric one due to the introduction of remote weapons. The object of the research is the humanitarian consequences of the introduction of modern types of remote weapons. The process of transformation of modern wars due to the transformation of civilian drones into unconventional weapons has been chosen as the subject of the study. The anthropocentric and humanistic understanding of war and weapons is outdated. Over the past few years, the war has ceased to be understood as a direct and open confrontation. Large-scale wars of attrition were replaced by armed conflicts in which time became the determining factor in the struggle. The basis for the success of military operations is determined by the availability of a high-speed adaptive information and communication network for managing units and weapons. Combining mining, information management and executive elements on the drone platform has made drones a universal striking tool capable of turning any unguided projectile into a precision weapon. This served as the basis for a humanistic reversal that launched the process of reassessing moral principles and making drones a necessary, "morally acceptable" and unconventional weapon. The asymmetry of modern wars has made "victory" and "humanitarian catastrophe," "humanism" and "murder" synonymous.

anthropocentrism, humanism, drone, weapon, windows of J. Overtone, network centrism, panopticism, symbiosis, collateral damage, OODA cycle