Halima Z. Ansari

Ms Halima Z. Ansari is Research Intern at the East Asia Centre, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi.

Publication

Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles: Some Ethical Considerations for the Defence Applications of AI

Combat drones or Unmanned Combat Aerial Systems/Vehicles (UCAVs) refer to automated aerial vehicles, equipped with the capacity to carry and deploy lethal weapons such as missiles or bombs. They are characterised by their maximum take-off weight (less than 150 kgs, 150–600 kgs, and more than 600 kgs) or flight features (High Altitude Long Endurance, and Medium Altitude Long Endurance). Enabled by Artificial Intelligence (AI), the use of these drones has become increasingly popular in combat and counter-terrorist missions.