Sadly, new technologies are often tested first in warfare, on the battlefield–not in commerce or for civilian use.

For example, a new technology made its debut in World War I–the airplane. Initially thought of as a remarkable new invention to transport people and goods at speeds and distances never imagined–it became an effective intelligence gathering and killing tool over the trenches and battlefields of France.

I suppose that if you go way back, to prehistoric times, the same kind of thing happened. The spear was probably invented to protect settlements from predators and to kill animals for food. Of course, it also became a preferred instrument in warfare–in the killing of fellow human beings.

Now, in the War in Ukraine, and in other places, we see the development of the drone in warfare. When we first heard about drones, they were going to be the new answer to faster delivery of packages. Drones, instead of deliverymen, would come swooping down your driveway and provide next-day service when you ordered a product online.

Instead, their most effective use to date has been the very efficient way in which they can carry on warfare without subjecting a pilot in a cockpit to being shot down. The Ukrainians and Russians have been the laboratory in developing these new instruments of war. On one daring raid, drones from Ukraine were carried by a truck which had been secretly driven deep into Russia. The drones were released and were able to destroy Russian planes on the ground some 800 miles from the battlefield itself.

I look upon all of this through two different lenses–one, as a citizen of earth opposed in principle to the idea of war. The second, as a veteran of the Vietnam War and former Naval Officer– knowing that we must be prepared for war and for what it brings.

As to the first, it is sad that new technology always has a war-making component. Yet, history seems to prove that to be true.

As to being a veteran and former member of the U.S. military–one has to realize that the drone has likely changed the way we will conduct military operations in the future. I would think, for example, that perhaps aircraft carriers may now become drone carriers. Why expose pilots when a drone can do the work?

Drones may even change the mission of submarines. Perhaps, instead of carrying missiles or torpedoes, submarines will now be built to unleash drones on enemy targets. Because of their stealth, submarines are a potent weapon. Now, they will have one more weapon in their arsenal.

This whole discussion is probably a “downer” and something that people don’t want to think about. Yet, we also can’t hide our heads in the sand.

Drones are here to stay and, unfortunately, as long as humans go to war against each other, they will be an instrument of war.

Rolland Kidder is Stow resident