CYIL vol. 14 (2023)

CYIL 14 (2023) AUTONOMOUS WEAPON SYSTEMS UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW… are used. In the conflict in Ukraine, drones mainly perform a reconnaissance function. But they are also deployed to fight. As early as February 2022, the Ukrainian army used Turkish made Bayraktar TB2 drones, which were used to destroy convoys of Russian equipment. Ukraine was especially helped by drones at the beginning of the war. Ukrainian Bayraktars are reported to have destroyed at least one hundred tanks, fifty armoured vehicles, one hundred and fifty guns, over ninety salvo rocket launchers or 48 anti-aircraft systems. 38 This drone is controlled remotely. It has a wingspan of 12 meters, is 6.5 meters long and can carry a combat load of 150 kilograms. It has four racks on which it can carry several types of weapons, most often Turkish MAM “smart bombs”, guided either by laser or GPS. Bayraktar is also equipped with an optical and infrared camera or laser designator and range finder. 39 It is these sensors that are their main advantage, they can find and focus on targets at long distances, while they can easily avoid enemy radars; for those, they also pose a problem with their small dimensions and profile. It is controlled from a control centre that can be mobile and quite unobtrusive – it fits into a standard shipping container, so it is not easy to target and destroy. The range of the missiles is then around eight kilometres if they are guided by a laser beam. If a satellite is used to guide them, then they reach accurately even up to fourteen kilometres. Drones can thus attack entire long columns of Russian military equipment moving through Ukrainian territory with missiles, especially at the back of these hard-to-protect convoys, which are often several kilometres long. 40 Currently, the remaining drones are not used by the Ukrainians for direct combat, but more often for performing various reconnaissance tasks, since the Bayraktars have very good optical sensors. 41 Russia deployed combat drones to a greater extent only in autumn 2022. They primarily attack Ukrainian infrastructure with them. In this way, Russia is probably replacing long range precision weapons, which they lack. 42 The Russians are currently mainly using Iranian Shahed-136 drones. This is a suicide drone. It is a so-called standby munition that can move in the area of interest and wait for the target to be found and confirmed. The advantage of such systems is the relatively low price, although the drone is unusable after an attack. 43 38 ZEMAN, D. Válka dronů na Ukrajině se vyvíjí. Obě strany jsou stále zkušenější v jejich využití [The drone war in Ukraine is evolving. Both sides are becoming more experienced in their use.] Available at: https://ct24. ceskatelevize.cz/svet/3586162-valka-dronu-na-ukrajine-se-vyviji-obe-strany-jsou-stale-zkusenejsi-v-jejich vyuziti 14. 5. 2023 [accessed 24. 5. 2023]. 39 KARLÍK, T. Turecké drony Bayraktar se Ukrajině osvědčily. Ničí kolony ruské techniky. [Turkey’s Bayraktar drones have proven themselves in Ukraine. They destroy convoys of Russian equipment.] Available at: https:// ct24.ceskatelevize.cz/veda/3448590-turecke-drony-bayraktar-se-ukrajine-osvedcily-nici-kolony-ruske-techniky 28. 2. 2022 [accessed 23. 5. 2023]. 40 Ibid. 41 ZEMAN, D. Válka dronů na Ukrajině se vyvíjí. Obě strany jsou stále zkušenější v jejich využití. [The drone war in Ukraine is evolving. Both sides are becoming more experienced in their use.] Available at: https://ct24. ceskatelevize.cz/svet/3586162-valka-dronu-na-ukrajine-se-vyviji-obe-strany-jsou-stale-zkusenejsi-v-jejich vyuziti 14. 5. 2023 [accessed 23. 5. 2023]. 42 POHŮDKA, P. Šáhid, Bayraktar, Orlan-10 a další. Jak válčí drony na Ukrajině. [Shahed, Bayraktar, Orlan-10 and others. How are the drones used in war in Ukraine] Available at: https://www.e15.cz/valka-na-ukrajine/prehledne sahid-bayraktar-orlan-10-a-dalsi-jak-valci-drony-na-ukrajine-1394666 8. 11. 2022 [accessed 23. 5. 2023]. 43 ŠURKALA. M. Íránské kamikadze drony Shahed-136 použity Ruskem na Ukrajině. [Shahed-136 Iranian kamikaze drones used by Russia in Ukraine.] Available at: https://www.svethardware.cz/iranske-kamikadze drony-shahed-136-pouzity-ruskem-na-ukrajine/58481 16. 10. 2022 [accessed 23. 5. 2023].

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