Recent investigations into far-right extremist groups in the United States reveal a concerning trend: the increasing interest in drone technology for potential use in domestic attacks. This progress comes on the heels of a wave of litigation against well-known people in these trades. Most significantly, Brandon Russell, the founder of the Atomwaffen Division (AWD), and Rinaldo Nazzaro, the leader of the Base are included. However, both of these men brought violent extremist ideology and military ties to the department, so future aspirations of suspects like these are frightening.
Brandon Russell, who once idolized Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, was convicted in 2019 of conspiracy to blow up substations in Maryland. Featured on episode 13 of America Dissected, this attack was the latest in a dangerous trend of attacks on critical infrastructure. This time to the Baltimore power grid. Rinaldo Nazzaro, a former smart bombs contractor for the Pentagon, is literally recruiting veterans. He wants to militarize his members through paramilitary training, and they might soon be even learning drone warfare.
Extremist groups such as AWD and the Base have readily adopted a specific interest in drone technology. In demonstration of this, some House members have recognized that drones are surveillance tools and weapons. A 2021 pamphlet used by Tajikistan’s military that appeared on a neo-Nazi Telegram channel this month explained how drone warfare is a central aspect of their operational tactics.
The move to drone warfare is in sync with the laziest trend among extremists. An anonymous neo-Nazi writer noted, “Next, you should have a drone. The FPV drone will be a valuable resource in the coming years, but it requires a certain degree of technical expertise (both in IT & explosives) that most don’t have to safely manufacture & use.” This underscores the importance of specialized expertise, for to use drones in violent ways requires a sophisticated knowledge of how they can best be deployed.
FPV (First-Person View) drones in particular are very attractive to these groups for their ability to carry out such offensive actions. Rather, they are seen as essential military tradecraft to any legitimate military or paramilitary organization. Joshua Fisher-Birch, a professional analyst tracking far-right extremists, emphasized that “extreme-right groups that promote violence look for individuals with military training and other professional skills that can be passed on to other members.”
As early as 2019, members of the Base discussed using drones to interfere with aircraft, demonstrating an early understanding of their tactical advantages. In 2022, another neo-Nazi faction linked to a bank robbery showcased their drone conducting “reconnaissance” on suburban areas, indicating practical applications of this technology.
And one self-described former AWD member expounded on the tactical advantages of drones for neo-Nazi ops. To demonstrate, he took aim at the ineffectiveness of the military’s drones. This is best illustrated if you understand just what the reality on the ground is like in Ukraine. And here comes the future, inexpensive, 3D-printed drone with a [high explosive] round zip tied to it. This short comment summarizes a developing disenchantment with traditional military technology across the extremist underworld.
Drones offer a new avenue for decentralized attacks, as they enable lone operatives or small cells to strike with limited conventional support. As one anonymous Substack writer articulated, “Groups or individuals could potentially use commercial or home-made drones for reconnaissance purposes or in an offensive capacity.” This flexibility renders drones alluring to far-right extremists looking to avoid detection from law enforcement.
Let’s not underestimate the new complexities introduced by drone manufacturing and operation. Operating the FPV drone requires high-level technical skills and a deep knowledge of explosives. It’s immensely unfortunate that so many people from those groups will not possess this vital combination. A cautionary statement from an anonymous neo-Nazi writer advised others to “leave [bombmaking] to people who won’t end up killing themselves,” underscoring the risks associated with these operations.
The implications of this trend are significant. The use of foreign militaries and terrorist organizations drones creates a parallel that domestic extremists can look to as a model. Fisher-Birch pointed out that “the use of FPV drones in the war between Russia and Ukraine, the use of drones by terrorist groups such as ISIS, and the use of drones by violent criminal groups, such as drug cartels, give examples that domestic extremists may seek to emulate or learn from.”
The interconnected nature of today’s world creates a dangerous environment for law enforcement and national security agencies. Drone technology has come a long way since then. Now, folks with military training or technical knowledge can forgo entering a fight at all by easily committing acts of violence from afar. Yet this increasing transnational dimension complicates counter-terrorism efforts. He said, acknowledging that authority now finds itself tooth and nail trying to track and stop threats from radical fringe groups.