The UK House of Commons Library just published a note that provides an introduction to the use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) by the UK Armed Forces, for Members of Parliament in support of their parliamentary duties.
UAS are primarily used to gather intelligence and provide a surveillance and reconnaissance function for the armed forces. Only a handful of systems are capable of carrying weapons. The only armed UAS used by the UK Armed Forces is the Reaper and it is only used in Afghanistan.
Remotely piloted aircraft operate on the same rules of engagement as manned aircraft. However the growth in the use of armed UAS, particularly by the United States, raises a number of moral, ethical and legal issues.
This note explores the strengths and weaknesses of UAS, the different types of UAS in use by the UK Armed Forces in Afghanistan, rules of engagement and highlights some of the points raised by those concerned about their development and use.
For a copy of the full report, click here.