The Colombian Army presented its first battalion of drones to attack and defend against illegal armed groups such as the guerrillas, who use this technology to attack soldiers and civilians in a way that transformed the armed conflict.
In the military air base Ptolemais, the main training center for the country’s public forces, the institution exhibited a group of drones equipped with technology such as artificial intelligence and capable of attacking organizations dedicated to drug trafficking and illegal mining from the air.
(See: What is known about the first rifle that the country manufactures to replace Israel’s weapons).
With designs similar to those of an airplane or with propellers similar to those of a helicopter, these aircraft are capable of identifying faces, following vehicles and some can fly over up to 45 kilometers.
“The conflict in Colombia has had a development based on some technological advances, especially given by these small unmanned aircraft“he told the agency AFP he General Carlos Padilla, commander of the Army aviation division.
The high command assures that it is an unprecedented battalion in Latin America.
(See: Petro denounces attempted censorship after the CRC requests the mass media).
Since last year, guerrillas who did not accept the peace agreement with the FARC, in 2016, began toattempt against members of the public force with homemade modified drones to release explosives. Padilla assures that in a year and a half there have been more than 350 attacks, which leave 15 uniformed officers dead and about 170 injured.
According to the general, the rebels received training from other foreign “terrorist groups.” They developed a method to attack “in an artisanal way, but very quickly,” he said.
The armed forces expect some 400 pilots, With an equivalent number of drones, they will make up a specialized base that will be built in the department of Boyacá (center).
(See: Electoral Peace Marathon: commitments for the 2026 elections).
“All these drones give us an ability to (have) eyes in the air at (a) depth that we did not have before“Padilla added.
First drone battalion of the Colombian Army.
afp
First drone battalion of the Colombian Army.
AFP
First drone battalion of the Colombian Army.
AFP
First drone battalion of the Colombian Army.
AFP
The Army considers that in Colombia, at the moment, There is no drone war like between Ukraine and Russia.
Iris Marín, head of the Ombudsman’s Office, organization that defends human rights, warned last week in an interview with the AFP that drone attacks by illegal groups also affect the civilian population, including children.
President Gustavo Petro has so far failed to reach peace with these organizations, one of his objectives since he came to power in 2022.
(See: They warn of economic impact due to delimitations of food production areas).
The president suspended the purchase of weapons from the United States and Israel, its main military but ideologically opposed partners, and promotes the manufacture of weapons in Colombia.
AFP
