Cheap drones threatens global energy security

Conflicts in Ukraine, Russia and the Middle East have demonstrated that unmanned aerial vehicles costing only hundreds or thousands of dollars can now threaten oil refineries, power plants, export terminals, pipelines and ports worth billions.

The result is a dramatic shift in the balance between attackers and defenders, forcing governments and energy companies to rethink how critical infrastructure is protected. As drone technology becomes cheaper, more accurate and easier to mass produce, safeguarding global energy supplies is emerging as one of the defining security challenges of the decade.