Faced with the growing threat of armed groups using commercial drones, the Colombian Armed Forces are actively working to counter these attacks.
Organized armed groups such as the Central General Staff, dissidents of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the National Liberation Army (ELN), and the Clan del Golfo, have adapted these unmanned devices to attack security forces and civilians in the departments of Guaviare, Caquetá, Nariño, Cauca, Huila, Tolima, Caldas, Norte de Santander, and Cesar. According to a recent report from El Tiempo, former Russian soldiers are reportedly training armed groups, including ELN and FARC dissidents in the use of explosive drones from Venezuela. Data obtained by the Colombian media outlet indicates that this training has the support of the Nicolás Maduro regime.
In response, the National Army implemented proactive measures.
A key step was the Army’s first-ever specialized training focused on detecting and neutralizing these aerial threats. This five-day program, organized by the Army’s Education and Doctrine Command Center and held in late April, equipped 35 carefully selected service members. These participants, chosen for their professional profile and critical skills, are now better prepared to effectively counter this evolving form of terrorism.
“The National Army has begun operational training against unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) attacks, with the aim of highlighting the operational capabilities of force members to detect, identify, neutralize, and mitigate hostile threats during military operations in the national context,” Brigadier General Jorge Ricardo Hernández Vargas, commander of the Colombian Army’s Education and Doctrine Command, told Diálogo. “This is to preserve the integrity of personnel and ensure the institutional mission’s fulfillment.”
The training covered essential aspects of counter-drone operations, including surveillance protocols, signal jamming, and cancellation techniques. The curriculum also included modules on attack pattern recognition and developing robust operational responses for both rural and urban environments, Argentine news site Infobae reported. Practical exercises were also incorporated featuring simulations of real-world incursions. These help equip soldiers with the necessary technical proficiency but also to hone their ability to make rapid, informed decisions under pressure.
In addition to the counter-UAS training provided by the Education and Doctrine Command Center, a parallel course on UAS management was also conducted, focusing on the essential skills needed to operate and direct drone systems, Brig. Gen. Hernández explained. “This is part of the strategic actions we continue to carry out to counter any threat posed by armed groups.”
By late May, 160 service members had been trained to maneuver these aircraft, significantly strengthening their response capabilities. Those who attended the operational training against UAS attacks will now replicate what they learned with their peers in their respective brigades and battalions.
“The aforementioned training is conducted by all the Colombian Army schools,” Brig. Gen. Hernández said. “It should be noted that we do have military personnel who have been trained in partner countries, members of NATO, on the operation of unmanned aircraft systems.”
In an interview with El Tiempo, Colombian Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez said that a bill is being advanced to regulate drone usage, alongside measures to govern anti-drone technology. Minister Sánchez noted that Colombia has received technology transfer from the United States, which is facilitating the domestic manufacture of these systems.
The escalating violence attributed to drone-based violence terrorism in Colombia presents an alarming picture. As of May 2025, a total of 73 attacks using these explosives have been recorded across the country this year. The vast majority, 59, occurred in Cauca department, on Colombia’s Pacific coast. Another 14 attacks were reported, the Colombian Military Forces indicated.
