Drones

While many people are aware of Predator drones used for counterinsurgency operations, unmanned systems of a wide variety have relevance in a wide range of applications—including great-power competition. Unmanned aerial systems have been used in the war in Ukraine for artillery spotting with devastating effect, and swarms of drone planes and ships have been demonstrated by Chinese state firms.

Content

External

Jan 14, 2014

IntelBrief: Unmanned Peacekeeping: Are Drones The New Blue Helmets?

By Amy Calfas

Bottom Line Up Front • On December 2, the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) announced it will deploy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), popularly known as “drones,” to monitor rebel groups along the Congolese-Rwandan border.

Drones International Organizations
NATO AGS drone

NATOSource

Dec 4, 2013

Northrop Grumman Begins Building Drones for NATO’s AGS Program

By April M. Havens, Gulf Live

Many NATO countries have “a crying need” for the capabilities that will be provided by five unmanned aircraft being built by Northrop Grumman Corp., NATO’s Jim Edge said today.

Drones Italy
Deputy Secretary General of NATO Alexander Vershbow

NATOSource

Nov 25, 2013

NATO Officials Questioning Canada’s Commitment

By Globe & Mail and Chronicle Herald

Canada’s commitment to NATO is being questioned by the military alliance, says its deputy secretary-general Alexander Vershbow, who suggests Canada is backing away.

Afghanistan Drones
European drone prototype, nEUron

NATOSource

Nov 19, 2013

European Defense Ministers Agree to Form ‘Drone Club’

By AP and AFP

From AP:  France, Germany and other European countries on Tuesday formed a “drone users club” to develop a rival to the U.S. and Israeli pilotless aircraft that dominate the field.

Drones European Union

MENASource

Aug 22, 2013

The Case Against Drone Strikes on People Who Only ‘Act’ Like Terrorists

By Danya Greenfield

As Mark Bowden discusses in this month’s Atlantic cover story, there is great debate about whether drone strikes should be a core component of the U.S. counterterrorism strategy. Of all the the arguments in favor, those those emphasizing effectiveness of signature strikes are particularly dubious.

Drones Technology & Innovation

NATOSource

Jul 22, 2013

Report: US Predator Operation in Turkey Named Nomad Shadow

By Craig Whitlock, Washington Post

From Craig Whitlock, Washington Post:  The steel-gray U.S. Air Force Predator drone plunged from the sky, shattering on mountainous terrain near the Iraq-Turkey border. For Kurdish guerrillas hiding nearby, it was an unexpected gift from the propaganda gods.

Drones Technology & Innovation

Congressional Relations

Jul 16, 2013

Congress Approves Sale of Reaper Drones to France

By AFP

From AFP:  Plans to sell US Reaper drones to France advanced Monday as Congress raised no objections to the contract, Pentagon officials said.

Drones Technology & Innovation

NATOSource

Jul 11, 2013

US Drone Base in Niger Plays Critical Role in French Operation in Mali

By Eric Schmitt, New York Times

From Eric Schmitt, New York Times:  Nearly every day, and sometimes twice daily, an unarmed American drone soars skyward from a secluded military airfield here, starting a surveillance mission of 10 hours or more to track fighters affiliated with Al Qaeda and other militants in neighboring Mali.

Drones Technology & Innovation

NATOSource

Jun 28, 2013

Pentagon Notified Congress of Request from France to Buy 16 Reaper Drones

By Defense Security Cooperation Agency

From Defense Security Cooperation Agency:  The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress today of a possible Foreign Military Sale to France of 16 MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft

Drones Technology & Innovation

NATOSource

Jun 28, 2013

General Atomics Developing Reaper Variant to Meet NATO/European Standards

By General Atomics

From General Atomics:  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI), a leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA)

Drones Technology & Innovation
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Experts

Fellow

Thomas X. Hammes

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Conflict Defense Industry

Fellow

Dominika Kunertova

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Artificial Intelligence Central Europe