US to test robot planes
A new weapon that could change the face of war is about to be tested by the US Air Force, it was reported today.
Last-minute checks are under way for the first tests of fully armed, pilotless robot combat planes capable of carrying out offensive missions, New Scientist magazine said.
The long term goal is to build an uncrewed aircraft with the same capabilities as existing warplanes.
The US and other countries already deploy robot surveillance aircraft. But these are more akin to radio-controlled models than serious combat planes.
However the Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) due to be tested in December represents a major step towards the age of "robot war".
Both the US Navy and Army have similar projects in development to make armed autonomous helicopters and ground vehicles, including tanks, New Scientist reported.
The big question is to what extent such machines should be allowed to decide what is, and what is not, a legitimate target.
If they are unable to distinguish friend from foe or civilians from the military, their use could breach the Geneva Convention.
While human operators will be able to issue orders, change operational instructions and ultimately control the machines from afar, the robots will be designed to defend themselves if communications break down.
Joost Hiltermann, head of the arms division at Human Rights Watch in Washington DC, said: "We are concerned, especially if the ability to pull the trigger occurs increasingly further away from the human."
