Colombia deploys armed drones in escalating fight against drug gangs (www.npr.org)
from babysandpiper@sopuli.xyz to world@lemmy.world on 16 Jul 2025 11:10
https://sopuli.xyz/post/30482146

Inside a cavernous hangar next to Bogotá’s international airport, military officers are testing a new weapon: a Colombian-made drone that can carry up to 18 pounds of explosives.

“It’s a tactical drone that’s easy for troops to carry but one that also has a lot of firepower,” says Colombian Air Force Col. Andrés Talavera, who is overseeing the test flight.

The drone is the latest salvo in the government’s battle against guerrillas and drug-traffickers. But although unmanned aerial vehicles have become vital weapons in conflicts from Ukraine to the Middle East, Colombia is a late comer to drone warfare.

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