NGRNThe New Geopolitics Research Network, in partnership with Adapt Institute, participated in the research “The Future of Drones: Strategic Interregnum”, a forward-looking study that explores how the rapid evolution of unmanned systems and AI-enabled technologies is reshaping global security. In this work, we examine the emerging strategic interregnum between today’s “second drone age” and the next phase of autonomous, networked warfare that will define defence planning, deterrence models, and alliance dynamics over the coming decade.
The research combines expert interviews, horizon scanning, and scenario-based analysis to assess how drones — across air, land, sea, and multi-domain ecosystems — are transforming the character of conflict and the balance of power. This collaborative effort highlights not only the opportunities created by disruptive technologies but also the systemic risks and vulnerabilities that states must urgently address as unmanned systems become central to future military competition.