In Asia and Africa, border security expenditures also represent a significant portion of many states' budgetary allocations. However, the amount of funding can vary considerably depending on specific conditions, threat levels and security priorities. In many Asian countries, such as China and India, border security is a critical element of national security. In the case of Africa, spending on border security may be more limited due to financial constraints and the specificities of the political situation.
However, some African countries are also investing in border reinforcement to combat terrorist threats, illegal migration and smuggling. For example, countries in the Sahara and Sahel region, such as Nigeria, Mali and Niger, are actively working with international partners and organizations such as the European Union and the United Nations to strengthen their borders and combat cross-border threats. Spending on border control in South Africa totalled R3.3 billion ($176 million) in 2023, 0.13% of the country's budget.
The allocation of financial resources for border security is a priority for many countries, as securing national borders is of strategic importance to national security and sovereignty. Efficient use of funds, including investment in modern technologies such as commercial drones for security, can optimize costs and increase the effectiveness of border management activities.
Border-related challenges range from migration flows and illegal crossings to smuggling and terrorist attacks. Rapid advances in technology and the transition to the digital age are exacerbating these challenges, providing criminal elements with new tools and opportunities for action. In the context of the current challenges, standard border security methods based on physical presence and static surveillance systems are showing their limitations.
In this context, the use of UAV drones, or autonomous drone systems, for border security brings a new era in state security. Unmanned aerial vehicles have a number of technical features that allow them to overcome many of the limitations of traditional methods.
Fixed cameras and guards play an important role in securing national borders, but they also have their disadvantages:
Limited visibility: Fixed cameras have a limited field of view and may not cover the entire border, especially if it is long or passes through a complex territorial landscape.
Ease of deception: Some unscrupulous individuals can circumvent fixed cameras by knowing their location and weaknesses, or by using camouflage techniques to avoid detection.
Danger to guards: Guards working at the border may be exposed to a variety of dangers, including attacks, terrorist attacks or adverse weather conditions.
Social and occupational constraints: Guards may face social and occupational constraints such as fatigue, stress, or the inability to fully supervise for long periods of time.
High operational costs: Maintaining and maintaining fixed cameras and personnel requires significant financial outlays, including salaries, training, maintenance, and equipment upgrades.
Vulnerability to technical failures: Fixed cameras can be vulnerable to technical failures, such as equipment failure, power failures or communication failures, which can temporarily disrupt border security.
All these shortcomings emphasize the need to develop and implement modern and innovative border security methods, such as the use of surveillance drones, to complement and improve existing systems and enhance the control and security of national borders.
Both multi-rotor drones and fixed wing aircraft are used to secure the border perimeter. A fixed wing drone is always moving forward, and they move much faster than multi-rotor drones, so you may not be able to put it into hover mode. In most cases, a launcher and additional personnel are required to get a fixed wing drone into the air. In the case of the Microavia drone-in-a-box system, the drone automatically takes off on a mission, can approach an object, and hover over it. Thanks to its enhanced maneuverability, it can move up and down in a single vertical line, back and forth, sideways and rotate around its axis.