Cheap drones turn energy into the global economy’s weak spot

The rise of cheap drones is forcing governments into a costly rethink of national defence. — Reuters

CHEAP, mass-produced drones have transformed modern warfare, exposing critical energy infrastructure as an Achilles’ heel for modern economies.

Lessons from the battlefields of Ukraine, Russia and the Middle East have shown how unmanned aircraft can evade traditional air defences, turning oil refineries, power stations, export terminals and pipelines into prime targets.