Eye in the Sky: How drones are revolutionising every sector
Drones are no longer peripheral technologies; they are rewriting the rules of warfare, aid, surveillance, and storytelling, forcing the world to rethink what it means to control the skies
In a world increasingly defined by speed, data and precision, drones, once dismissed as toys or tools of war, have taken flight across a wide range of civilian sectors.
From Ukrainian battlefields to African clinics, from flooded villages in Bangladesh to farms in California, these unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are transforming how we respond to crises, grow food, deliver aid and even tell stories.
"Drones have become an eye in the sky for everything from rescue to reconnaissance. What sets it apart is not just its capability, but its adaptability. It's a technology that works just as well during a pandemic as it does in a warzone," says Brett Velicovich, American drone expert and former US Army intelligence operator in an interview with CBS.
Rise of drone warfare
Nowhere has the strategic potential of drones been more vividly demonstrated than in Ukraine's ongoing war with Russia. In June 2025, Ukraine launched 117 FPV and loitering drones deep into Russian territory, targeting five airbases across Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
The attack destroyed over 40 aircraft, including Tu‑95 and Tu‑22 bombers, and it was the result of an 18-month secret planning campaign codenamed Operation Spider's Web.
These were not just high-end machines; many were low-cost, AI-guided FPV drones assembled locally. Ukraine also deployed incendiary "Dragon" drones, designed to drop molten thermite capable of burning through light infrastructure, to sabotage logistics and ignite psychological fear.
According to open-source military data, Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces reportedly struck 20,000 targets in June 2025 alone, destroying over 5,000 military assets.
As a result, Russia had to build steel shelters and deploy decoy aircraft to protect against these "flying mosquitos".
"This isn't just warfighting; it's warfare redefined. Drones can now strike deep inside enemy territory without sending a single soldier across the border," said Serhii Kuzan, head of the Ukrainian Center for Security and Cooperation and defence analyst, in an interview with Radio NV.
Drones have become an eye in the sky for everything from rescue to reconnaissance. What sets it apart is not just its capability, but its adaptability. It's a technology that works just as well during a pandemic as it does in a warzone.
Drones during the pandemic
During the Covid-19 pandemic, drones played a different role — one of logistics, public safety and sanitation. In Rwanda, Zipline drones delivered vaccines, blood samples and PPE to rural clinics, completing missions in minutes that would otherwise take hours.
In Spanish cities, law enforcement deployed loudspeaker drones to enforce lockdowns and encourage social distancing. In South Korea and China, sprayer drones disinfected roads and public areas, while thermal drones in Italy scanned crowds for signs of fever.
At a time when human contact was dangerous, drones became our messengers, our eyes, and sometimes our doctors, said Dr Amina Jega Yusuf, a public health coordinator for an African NGO, in a podcast with The ACSE.
Drones in disaster response and medical emergencies
In the wake of natural disasters, drones are now often deployed as first responders. They are fast, require no fuel convoys, and can access areas that humans cannot.
During the 2015 Nepal earthquake, drones helped locate survivors trapped beneath the rubble. In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey (2017), drones scouted flooded streets, mapped relief routes, and guided rescue boats. In the case of Cyclone Amphan, they assessed damaged embankments across the Sundarbans in Bangladesh.
In emergency healthcare, defibrillator drones have been deployed in parts of Europe to provide rapid response in cardiac emergencies. In mountainous villages of Malawi, drones now ferry HIV test samples from clinics to labs, slashing diagnostic time from weeks to days.
Drones in agriculture
Agriculture is another sector experiencing a quiet drone revolution. Farmers use multispectral drones to monitor crop health, detect pests and assess irrigation needs. Precision drones spray pesticides only where needed, reducing waste and environmental damage.
In the US, livestock herders now track animals using drones equipped with thermal sensors and RFID detectors. Meanwhile, drone-mapped 3D soil models help improve planting strategies and boost yields.
Surveillance, media, mapping, and more
Beyond agriculture and emergencies, drones are used for filmmaking, live event coverage, infrastructure inspections, and environmental monitoring. From tracking elephant herds in Kenya to creating 3D maps of mining pits in Chile, drones deliver insights quickly and safely.
Security agencies worldwide use drones for crowd control, riot surveillance, and border patrols. Conservationists use them to monitor deforestation and poaching. Researchers fly them into volcanic craters or storm fronts to collect live data.
They've become tools of journalism, art, science, and even leisure. FPV drone racing and aerial vlogging are now billion-dollar industries.
Skyward global market
The global drone market is currently valued at $40–50 billion, with projections soaring to $100 billion+ by 2030. Commercial uses, from logistics to agriculture, are expected to outpace even military demand.
China dominates the global drone industry, manufacturing around 70% of all drones sold worldwide. Its crown jewel, DJI, leads the consumer and commercial drone market, exporting to over 100 countries. China's focus: affordable, camera-equipped drones for farming, delivery, and photography.
Globally, China leads in civilian drones, the US in military tech, Israel in surveillance drones, and Turkey in cost-effective combat drones.
The United States, while strong in defence, is expanding into autonomous and AI-guided systems, led by firms like Skydio and Zipline. Its military drones, such as the MQ‑9 Reaper, are among the most advanced.
Israel and Turkey have carved out powerful positions in the military drone market. Israel's Heron and Turkey's Bayraktar TB2 have been sold across Africa, Asia, and Europe.
India and France are investing in both military and commercial drone ecosystems, often under government-backed innovation schemes.
