ATTACK OF THE DRONES: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES AS AN INSTRUMENT OF WAR

Abstract

On December 14 and 15, 2009, the Center for Technology and National SecurityPolicy hosted a conference addressing the topic of “Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) as an Instrument of War.” 2 A part of the Transforming National Security Seminar series, this conference brought together distinguished panelists and expert speakers from the domestic and international, civilian and military, academic and private sector arenas. Focusing on the explosive rise of remotely-piloted vehicles in the skies above Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan, several panelists addressed the current roles and missions, modern designs, and future capabilities of this unique platform. In addition to these discussions on the “hard” engineering behind these different aircraft, the conference also looked at some of the tougher issues facing UAV manufacturers, unmanned operators in the U.S. Air Force, and the American society in general. For example, what is this robotics revolution we are living through and what does it mean for the U.S. military? How is waging war without warriors affecting our traditional soldier ethos? Is the rise of “joystick jockeys” a sign that war is no longer a risky life-and-death battle but more of a detached form of entertainment? Are these machines even legal or ethical according to international standards? Based on the conference report, speaker presentations, and independent research, this paper focuses primarily on the aforementioned “soft” challenges associated with operating unmanned systems. After providing a brief general history of American UAVs, this article will highlight the role of unmanned aircraft in the robotic revolution of the 21 Century as well as their impact on the U.S. armed forces and the international legal system as a whole.