Read more about the article Drones and Mines: Demining Operation Theatres
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Drones and Mines: Demining Operation Theatres

Evolving within a theatre of operations implies evolving in a minefield, both literally and figuratively. Land force operations often take place in conflict zones, on ground that has been altered by past or present combat. The death and injury of thousands is caused every year by several kinds of mines: improvised explosive devices (IEDs); unexploded but still armed munitions (UXOs); or explosive remnants of past wars (ERWs) (UNMAS, 2015) which remain in place. Today it is estimated that more than 100 million armed mines remain active (MINESWEEPERS, 2016).

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2 February 2021
Read more about the article The Use Of Military Drones: The Impact On Land Forces And Legal Implications
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The Use Of Military Drones: The Impact On Land Forces And Legal Implications

Military drones have come to revolutionise warfare. They are roving on land, streaking through the skies, and diving under the seas. Since their creation, more than fifty years ago, drones have constantly evolved to the present, becoming one of the main artificial intelligence (AI) weapons, integrated into military forces throughout the world. Whilst drones exist in all domains; aerial drones (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles - UAVs) are clearly the media superstars. However, a whole ecosystem of ground-based drones or Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) is evolving at an equally fervid pace. This study will focus on UGVs (within the concept of “drone” hereafter), their implementation in land forces in tandem with UAVs and will discuss the legal issues they present within the European Union (EU) legal framework.

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14 January 2021
Read more about the article The Bundestag’s Denial of Armed Drones
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The Bundestag’s Denial of Armed Drones

The Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) has been using unarmed reconnaissance drones for decades and has recently called for approval for armed combat drones. However, this request has been blocked by the Center-left Social Democrats (SPD) – part of Germany's coalition government – in the German Parliament (The Bundestag). The Bundeswehr was expecting rapid approval from the Bundestag to arm the five Heron TP drones recently acquired from the Israeli manufacturer Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). However, these drones will operate unarmed, as the vote for “armed drones” has been postponed indefinitely. SPD leader Norbert Walter-Borjans has argued that "the line between defending the lives and limbs of our soldiers and killing with a joystick is very thin" and that such a debate should deserve more time and serious discussion. Two questions arise from this situation: firstly, have other states banned armed drones? And secondly, would the decision to arm drones lead to an increase in conflicts or civilian deaths?

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7 January 2021