CYIL vol. 9 (2018)

BIRUTĖ PRANEVIČIENĖ – VIOLETA VASILIAUSKIENĖ CYIL 9 ȍ2018Ȏ UAVs for military use can be distinguished and categorized based on physical characteristics such as maximum take-off weight, range, payload, endurance, and means of command and control. Armed forces now operate unmanned aerial vehicles of all weight classes. “Most armed UAVs are large systems with a maximum take-off weight in excess of 600 kg. There are examples, however, of armed medium-weight UAVs capable of carrying existing types of air-to-surface rockets. Furthermore, smaller systems are capable of employing weapons, either by design or adaptation, and being flown beyond the visual line- of-sight of the operator. A further relevant advent is the increasing development, production and export of remotely piloted loitering munitions or cruise missiles. Accordingly, thresholds found in existing multilateral export control regimes, which were once sufficient to act as a brake on the widespread proliferation of all types of armed UAVs, not just those capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction, have become less effective in regulating the spread of armed UAVs per se.” 4 According to K. Sayler, “87 countries – ranging from major military powers such as the United States and China to smaller nations such as Cyprus and Trinidad and Tobago – operate drones and this number is likely to grow in the years to come” 5 . As more states develop and export the technology, the use of unmanned weapons systems will inevitably increase. Therefore, the increasing use of unmanned aerial vehicles has a growing impact on strategy and policy as they expand and complicate the spectrum of conflict. Some scholars and policymakers point to the positive impact of the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, especially for the counterterrorism aims. The idea to use unmanned aerial vehicles as part of a broader and continuous counterterrorism strategy is based on the potential to disrupt the activities of terrorist groups in the short run. “…drones have become a critical tool in the war against terrorist and militant organizations worldwide. Their advantages over other weapons and intelligence systems are well known. They can silently observe an individual, group, or location for hours on end, but take immediate action should a strike opportunity become available – all without putting a pilot at risk”. 6 Analysts point out that unmanned aerial vehicles are the cheapest and safest option available when targeting terrorists in these remote and inaccessible areas. 7 The United States is the leader in the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for anti-terrorist purposes: “the United States has deployed its fleet of unmanned drones to target various terrorist groups in inaccessible and volatile regions. The drone, for many, has become a symbol of America’s fight against terrorism.” 8 There are two main tactics of American use of unmanned aerial vehicles: 1) Targeted strikes are directed against known terrorists when their location can be determined. 4 UNITED NATIONS, Study on armed unmanned aerial vehicles , Prepared on the Recommendation of the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters; 2015, https://unoda-web.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/wp-content/ uploads/assets/publications/more/drones-study/drones-study.pdf, [accessed 20 May 2018]. 5 SAYLER, K. A world of proliferated drones: a technology primer, 2015, https://s3.amazonaws.com/files.cnas.org/ documents/CNAS-World-of-Drones_052115.pdf?mtime=20160906082154, [accessed 22 May 2018], p. 16. 6 ZENKO, M. Reforming U.S. drone strike policies , 2013, https://www.cfr.org/report/reforming-us-drone-strike- policies, [accessed 22 May 2018]. 7 AKINS, H. U.S. Drone Tactics and Global Precedents in the Fight Against Terror , 2016, https://scholars.org/brief/ us-drone-tactics-and-global-precedents-fight-against-terror [accessed 22 May 2018]. 8 Ibid.

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