Game changer? Drones in war

What do drones mean for present and future wars? And how have they evolved over time? These questions and many more are addressed in our new special exhibition, “Gamechanger? Drones in War”. The exhibition opens on November 19 and will be on display at the War Museum for the next year.

We constantly hear about drones in the media, and social media is overflowing with videos of drone strikes in Ukraine and other battlefields worldwide.

Unmanned aerial weapons spread fear and terror wherever they surveil and drop bombs—impacting both soldiers and civilians. No place is safe, as drones equipped with cameras and sensors can see you anywhere.

There are plenty of nightmare scenarios: Are we heading toward a future where drones become pure killing machines operating autonomously? And can we counter drone attacks with the defense systems available to the Danish military today?

Once drones were balloons with bombs

However, drones or unmanned vehicles are not a new phenomenon. Since the 1800s, they have been used in various forms to surprise and scare the enemy—from primitive balloons with attached bombs to Hitler’s dreaded V-1 flying bomb.

Today, drones are an indispensable part of warfare in hotspots like Ukraine, where they are used extensively by warring factions.

Even in Denmark, we must address the threat of drones, as evidenced by attacks on Danish soldiers during missions, such as in the Red Sea in 2024.

In our brand-new special exhibition, “Gamechanger? Drones in War”, we delve into what drones are, how they have been used and are currently employed, and what they will mean for future wars.

The exhibition brings you close to the world of drones and their operators—you can see examples of different drones that have been used in everything from the war on terror to the current conflict in Ukraine.

The special exhibition “Gamechanger? Drones in War” can be experienced at the War Museum starting November 19 and will remain at the museum for about a year.

Access to the exhibition is included in the entrance ticket.

The exhibition has been created in collaboration with Andreas Graae from the Danish Defence Academy, House of Ukraine in Denmark, the Center for Weapons, the Intelligence Regiment, the Danish Ministry of Defence’s Material and Procurement Agency, the Gilleleje Group, Sky-Watch, MyDefence, and the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War.