Far-right extremists in the United States are increasingly viewing first-person viewer (FPV) drones as vital tools in a potential future conflict against the government, raising concerns among authorities.
Analysts say online extremist spaces are filled with discussions about how low-cost drones are transforming modern warfare and could be central to a so-called second civil war.
“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,” said Joshua Fisher-Birch, an analyst who has tracked far-right activity for nearly a decade.
Fisher-Birch pointed to a case in Nashville where a neo-Nazi plotted to bomb a power station with a drone before being stopped by police. He noted ongoing extremist interest in how cartels and foreign groups adapt drones for both surveillance and offensive purposes.
A neo-Nazi Substack writer, who claims to be a former Marine and ex-member of the Atomwaffen Division (AWD), described drones as essential tools for extremists. “The drones the military uses are entirely useless when you look at the reality on the ground in Ukraine. The future is cheap, 3D-printed drones with a [high-explosive] round zip tied to it,” he wrote.
The same writer, who says he left the Marines recently, has outlined how FPV drones could be adapted by extremists for reconnaissance and other uses. “Next, you should have a drone,” he wrote. “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.”
Groups such as the Base, long under FBI investigation, have sought to recruit veterans and soldiers with technical skills to enhance their operations. Its founder, Rinaldo Nazzaro, has offered money to veterans to train members in paramilitary tactics.
Brandon Russell, another AWD founder and military veteran, was recently convicted of planning attacks on Maryland substations.
Fisher-Birch said violent white supremacist groups seek individuals with military training. “Extreme-right groups that promote violence look for individuals with military training and other professional skills that can be passed on to other members,” he explained.
Drone tactics have been discussed among extremists for years. In 2019, the Base circulated ideas about drones interfering with aircraft. In 2022, a neo-Nazi group linked to a bank robbery posted drone footage of a suburban area they labeled as reconnaissance.
The Department of Homeland Security has warned that terrorist groups could use drones for intelligence gathering or to drop explosives on critical infrastructure. The FBI, meanwhile, faces difficulties in monitoring the growing threat amid reduced counterterrorism resources.
“There are a number of [neo-Nazis] in the military,” the Substack writer claimed. “I managed to make it through [military processing] & gain a security clearance despite being known to the FBI as an AWD member.”
“The FBI has no comment,” an agency spokesperson told the Guardian.
