Every War Is Now a Drone War episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 9, 2026 · 40 MIN

Every War Is Now a Drone War

from The World Unpacked · host Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Drones are no longer the future of war. They’re now a defining weapon in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, and beyond—altering the course of conflicts and reshuffling the balance of military power. The pace of change has caught many by surprise, with state and non-state groups racing to mass-produce, diversify, and protect their rapidly evolving drone arsenals.Find the episode transcript and streaming audio, and get the show direct to your inbox, here: https://carnegieendowment.org/podcasts/the-world-unpacked/every-war-is-now-a-drone-war?Follow Jon on X: https://x.com/JonKBateman  

Steve Feldstein, a leading expert on technology and warfare, joined Jon Bateman on The World Unpacked to break down these trends. Are drones helping defenders deter aggression, or enabling attackers to slaughter more civilians? Why haven’t we seen full autonomy? And has the U.S. fallen behind in the weapon class that it first pioneered?

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Every War Is Now a Drone War

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This episode was published on January 9, 2026.

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Drones are no longer the future of war. They’re now a defining weapon in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, and beyond—altering the course of conflicts and reshuffling the balance of military power. The pace of change has caught many by surprise, with state and...

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