Appeal from Drone Wars

Posted: 29th June 2025

Dear Friends,

Since we sent out our 15th birthday appeal at the beginning of the month we have seen the release of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) announcing huge increase in funding for drone and AI warfare, Israeli and US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, continued Israeli attacks on Gaza and the West Bank, and publication this week of the UK National Security Strategy with government pledging “public outreach events” across the UK “explaining” current and future threats and the rationale for more defence spending. This all needs to be strongly challenged.

As you know, Drone Wars works both to increase public and parliamentary understanding of the dangers of high-tech warfare – and ensure that there is a strong challenge to these developments. We have engaged in long-term investigations, often using Freedom of Information processes, in order to publish accessible reports so that we are all better informed about what our government and big corporations are doing in this area. At the same time, we have also organised regular protests and spoken at hundreds of public meetings up and down the country.  

We are one of only a few voices in the media at the moment challenging this nonsense, and making the argument that spending such vast sums on weapons while our public services are being slashed is madness.    

We maintain that the real way to increase security for both people in the UK and around the globe is to work with other states to uphold international law, build support for international dispute resolving mechanisms and address the underlying causes of enduring violent conflict. Building and strengthening such capabilities would help rebuild relationships at the international, regional and local level. Investing in diplomacy, for example, rather than drones at this time of international tension would really help to build international cooperation and ensure a basis for long-term peace and security. 

Please Help!

We launched our appeal at the beginning of the month to mark our 15th birthday in order to help us make a real impact as the government ramps up support for drone and high-tech warfare.  As we reach the end of the month, we are shy of our target and so any donation – large or small – would make a real difference. The harm caused by the proliferation of military drones, the development of autonomous weapons as well as the increasing militarisation of space, needs more and more attention while our resources are spread thinner and thinner.   

If you can, please do donate here or via our website. All donations will directly help challenge high tech warfare. Please do support us if you can.  

Thank you.  

The Drone Wars Team.

Photo: Drone Wars protest bombing of Iran at RAF Fairford (a US base in all but name) earlier this week.