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Swarm Troopers: How small drones will conquer the world
Small unmanned aircraft are already transforming warfare, with hand-launched scouts like the Raven and lethal tactical drones like Switchblade already in use by US forces. A bigger revolution is on the way, as swarming software allows a single operator to control large numbers of drones, and smartphone technology means they can be built for $1,000 each -- by anybody, not just governments. This book looks at the history of drone warfare, the rise of big drones like the Predator and how they are being eclipsed by smaller unmanned aircraft. And how the future is being shaped by smartphone technology, swarm software, miniaturised munitions and energy-harvesting that allows small drones to fly forever. It also looks at why current air defence cannot stop the swarms, and what drone swarms will mean for the balance of power and future wars. This is the world of Swarm Troopers
322 pages, Paperback
First published December 10, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 16, 2016
The basic premise is that technology on drones has developed so dramatically in recent years that small swarms of them could threaten even the United States military, including our own massive nuclear supercarriers. I had initial objections to this premise, as likely most readers will have, but Hambling does a very thorough job of going step by step through his argument and documenting every point with government and commercial sources that seem to know what they are talking about.
Most people are familiar with the drones that are used by the military in Iraq and Afghanistan that look like pilotless gliders and carry names like Predator and Raptor. Those are still being used, actually quite extensively. But Hambling states that the move has gone to smaller and smaller craft, ostensibly for reconnaissance, and the military is using them now, even on a unit basis. Many of them look like the small quadcopters you see sold at Best Buy and Radio Shack. In fact, competition among commercial electronics firms has the military in many cases buying their equipment straight off the rack rather than waiting for their own R & D to develop it.
At the same time, advancements in explosives development has made larger booms come from much smaller packages, meaning that a very small quadcopter could be responsible for decimating as much as an entire building. The premise is frightening.
There are some problems with this book, however. It's self published, and there are many proofreading errors in it. He does a great job of including sources, which I am very grateful, but he builds an argument that still feels one sided. Often it sounds as if the military is either totally stupid and ignoring a potential problem, or that they just aren't telling him what their possible solution is. In either case, the picture is only half there, I believe.
The book goes on longer than I thought it needed to. I thought there was lots of good information here, and I recommend it to anyone interested in the subject, but there may be some areas that might call for some skimming.
Most people are familiar with the drones that are used by the military in Iraq and Afghanistan that look like pilotless gliders and carry names like Predator and Raptor. Those are still being used, actually quite extensively. But Hambling states that the move has gone to smaller and smaller craft, ostensibly for reconnaissance, and the military is using them now, even on a unit basis. Many of them look like the small quadcopters you see sold at Best Buy and Radio Shack. In fact, competition among commercial electronics firms has the military in many cases buying their equipment straight off the rack rather than waiting for their own R & D to develop it.
At the same time, advancements in explosives development has made larger booms come from much smaller packages, meaning that a very small quadcopter could be responsible for decimating as much as an entire building. The premise is frightening.
There are some problems with this book, however. It's self published, and there are many proofreading errors in it. He does a great job of including sources, which I am very grateful, but he builds an argument that still feels one sided. Often it sounds as if the military is either totally stupid and ignoring a potential problem, or that they just aren't telling him what their possible solution is. In either case, the picture is only half there, I believe.
The book goes on longer than I thought it needed to. I thought there was lots of good information here, and I recommend it to anyone interested in the subject, but there may be some areas that might call for some skimming.
July 3, 2023
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/rev...
Review published in The Tribune on 02 July 2023
Review published in The Tribune on 02 July 2023
December 31, 2021
If you're interested in the future of warfare, you need to read Swarm Troopers! As someone with a life-long love of airplanes, this book completely changed how I see airpower. David paints a vivid picture of a world where the entire geopolitical landscape is re-arranged by swarms of cheap, disposable drones.
After reading this book, you'll realize that we're about to witness a fundamental shift in the way wars are fought. The Pentagon is currently dismissive of what drones are capable of, but I'd be willing to bet that they'll later regret that position. Drones represent the next wave, just as tanks replaced horse cavalry and guns replaced swords. It's that big of a deal.
Don't hesitate - if you care about aviation, war, technology or politics, READ THIS BOOK!
After reading this book, you'll realize that we're about to witness a fundamental shift in the way wars are fought. The Pentagon is currently dismissive of what drones are capable of, but I'd be willing to bet that they'll later regret that position. Drones represent the next wave, just as tanks replaced horse cavalry and guns replaced swords. It's that big of a deal.
Don't hesitate - if you care about aviation, war, technology or politics, READ THIS BOOK!
March 21, 2025
It was written in 2015 so it’s a little dated and discusses current events with a focus more on terrorism than on peer conflict though the latter is discussed.
Overall it’s a fairly easy read and does a great job discussing the history of drones, both large and small, and I learned a lot. Some of the new capabilities he discusses are no longer new but some have still yet to be realized.
Hambling sees small drones as revolutionary and they may be, but in the ten years since publishing we’ve seen only modest advances despite the proliferation of 3D printing, small munitions, and AI. Time will tell if some of his more fantastic predictions will come true.
Overall it’s a fairly easy read and does a great job discussing the history of drones, both large and small, and I learned a lot. Some of the new capabilities he discusses are no longer new but some have still yet to be realized.
Hambling sees small drones as revolutionary and they may be, but in the ten years since publishing we’ve seen only modest advances despite the proliferation of 3D printing, small munitions, and AI. Time will tell if some of his more fantastic predictions will come true.
May 25, 2021
This might be picky, but there wasn’t enough about warfare with micro-drones in here. Lots about drone history, and ... erm.. big drones. But it’s the tiny ones that interest me.
But it was a great place to start me off - Especially talking about the prejudice that holds the USAF back from making strides in this field while the rest of the world gets ahead.
Much like “‘Goliath”, this feels like a book that more westerners should read.
But it was a great place to start me off - Especially talking about the prejudice that holds the USAF back from making strides in this field while the rest of the world gets ahead.
Much like “‘Goliath”, this feels like a book that more westerners should read.
February 10, 2017
Great book, very informative.
July 18, 2019
Fascinating and Engrossing
Book is absolutely stuffed with interesting and well researched info. Its superb and enthralling. Well worth a read, even if it isn't your normal fare.
Book is absolutely stuffed with interesting and well researched info. Its superb and enthralling. Well worth a read, even if it isn't your normal fare.
November 14, 2019
I remember equally ignorant men describing more than a century ago how by 1950s we'd all have helicopter backpacks while still wearing Victorian dress.
January 13, 2020
Sobering read.
Swarms are the little known future of warfare and this very informative book illustrates just how devastating they will be.
Swarms are the little known future of warfare and this very informative book illustrates just how devastating they will be.
January 19, 2021
Excellent overview of what is coming and the technology involved.
June 2, 2025
An important book which dives deep to explain as to why future wars will be fought from air and how swarms are gonna lead those. A must read
January 4, 2026
Great conversation knowledge for networking with others in the industry.
The history in here is insightful and intriguing. Loved it.
The history in here is insightful and intriguing. Loved it.
December 19, 2015
I had the pleasure of proofreading this in advance of its publication, and can heartily recommend it to anyone with an interest in drone warfare or military esoterica. I've always thought I was quite well-versed in historical military oddities, but this book introduced me to plenty of episodes that had completely passed me by (Farnhey's 1930s drones, Fire Bees etc.) as well as some truly terrifying tech currently in development. For the record, before reading it I didn't know much about drones specifically, beyond what I'd gathered from watching the news and a bit of Wikipedia. I'm much more well-informed now!
There's a staggering amount of research here, well-sourced, and dispassionately evaluated. For all that, it's an easy and enjoyable read that manages to make the drier, more-technical aspects of the systems interesting and relevant without (ahem) droning on (sorry!). The author takes a well-reasoned and non-judgmental stance when considering the ramifications of these machines and their merits relative to the more-familiar, larger drones we tend to see in the news, but my favourite parts are those which describe the application of biological principles and the behaviour of natural organisms to their development: Simple things, like the coordination of swarming birds, the ability to perch, remote communication between foraging insects and the like, that designers are copying to overcome some of the problems their devices face. The author also makes some compelling arguments for the inevitability of the drones' eventual ubiquity, based on the history of military procurement and fighter development. Again, this is an area that could have been quite dull in the wrong hands, but DH's journalistic experience stands him in good stead, and it's hard to argue with the numbers he cites.
I have no hesitation in recommending Swarm Troopers to anyone who likes gadgets, military history, or aeroplanes, or who just wants to know what to expect from the little sods in the future. And, if you're ordering the paperback version a year or two after publication, and it's being delivered by an Amazon drone...just watch yourself! ;-
There's a staggering amount of research here, well-sourced, and dispassionately evaluated. For all that, it's an easy and enjoyable read that manages to make the drier, more-technical aspects of the systems interesting and relevant without (ahem) droning on (sorry!). The author takes a well-reasoned and non-judgmental stance when considering the ramifications of these machines and their merits relative to the more-familiar, larger drones we tend to see in the news, but my favourite parts are those which describe the application of biological principles and the behaviour of natural organisms to their development: Simple things, like the coordination of swarming birds, the ability to perch, remote communication between foraging insects and the like, that designers are copying to overcome some of the problems their devices face. The author also makes some compelling arguments for the inevitability of the drones' eventual ubiquity, based on the history of military procurement and fighter development. Again, this is an area that could have been quite dull in the wrong hands, but DH's journalistic experience stands him in good stead, and it's hard to argue with the numbers he cites.
I have no hesitation in recommending Swarm Troopers to anyone who likes gadgets, military history, or aeroplanes, or who just wants to know what to expect from the little sods in the future. And, if you're ordering the paperback version a year or two after publication, and it's being delivered by an Amazon drone...just watch yourself! ;-
April 16, 2016
Eye Opening Warning
The drones are coming and if they aren't ours, they will be someone else's. The potential for small, cheap swarms of drones to disrupt current military systems should be a warning to us all. It is time to stop fighting the last war. It is time to stop spending billions on weapons that will be disrupted by cheap and available drones. Read this book!
The drones are coming and if they aren't ours, they will be someone else's. The potential for small, cheap swarms of drones to disrupt current military systems should be a warning to us all. It is time to stop fighting the last war. It is time to stop spending billions on weapons that will be disrupted by cheap and available drones. Read this book!
December 13, 2016
In 1937, Guderian published "Achtung panzer!", which foretold of future wars won by tank formations, against all accepted military theories at the time. Swarm Troopers may be seen the same way 20 years from now. If Hambling is right, that future is terrifying.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews