Dragon Drone: The most lethal weapon in the world, reducing everything to ashes in seconds.

Delhi 16 October, (VNI)The Dragon Drone, considered one of the world's most dangerous weapons, is being used in the Russia-Ukraine war. Both sides have posted visuals of these drones raining fire, spewing molten metal at a temperature of 2,427 degrees Celsius. Dragon drones release a substance called thermite, a mixture of aluminum and iron oxide, originally developed over a century ago to weld railway tracks. According to media reports, when this mixture of aluminum and iron oxide is ignited, usually with an electric fuse, it triggers a self-sustaining reaction that is extremely difficult to extinguish. It can burn almost anything—from clothing to trees and even military-grade vehicles. It can burn underwater, and on humans, it causes severe, potentially fatal burns and bone damage.

The Dragon drone is believed to have first been used in the Russia-Ukraine war around September. A New York Times report mentions that the Ukrainian army deployed these drones to “burn vegetation used by Russian troops for cover, leaving them and their equipment exposed to direct attack.” Soon after, the Russian side began manufacturing and deploying their own Dragon drones.

It’s important to note that thermite has been used in warfare during both World Wars. In World War I, German Zeppelins dropped thermite-filled bombs, which were considered a new weapon at the time. During World War II, the Allies dropped approximately 30 million 4-pound thermite bombs on Germany and another 10 million on Japan. Thermite hand grenades were also used to disable artillery pieces without the need for explosions.

For  information, thermite is not prohibited in warfare under international law. However, the use of incendiary weapons like thermite against civilian targets is banned under the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons—a Cold War-era guidance issued under the United Nations. A military expert noted that “the problem with thermite is that it is quite indiscriminate.” Therefore, while its use is not outright banned, Protocol II of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons strictly limits its use to military targets due to its potential to cause severe burns and respiratory injuries.

The ethical justification of using weapons like the Dragon drone deserves careful thought. These destructive weapons not only pose significant danger to soldiers but also create grave risks for civilians, the environment, and global peace. The goal of war should not be solely to win but also to uphold human safety and morality. Rules should be established to prevent the use of weapons that inflict more suffering and pain than necessary. In modern warfare, maintaining moral standards and human values should be a priority, and dangerous weapons like these must be eliminated.