Drones is a subject that seems to be almost constantly in the news and one might reasonably question what more is there to say? Most of the literature on the subject is very similar and is either drowned in technicalities or based on the dubious moral assertions that being killed by a drone is worse than being killed directly by a human. This paper aims to address this ideological error, together with recent changes in the way drones have actually been used and a new technological development. The specific contentions, which also make up the key parts of this paper, are that the discussion around drone warfare is ideologically skewered. This is acceptable – politics is part of how we interpret law. It may equally be skewered the other way however. It also looks at recent developments in Ukraine which show new types of drones being used in innovative ways. Finally, recent technological developments suggest that, after years of hype, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is finally arriving in drone warfare. Judging by the noises from the Pentagon, drones are going to be even more important in future Western military doctrine. More money is going to be spent to procure more of them.
Team: Alexander Lawson
