UAVs an ethical consideration

News Article / November 2, 2016

The debates behind the ethical use of unamend air vehicles (UAV) and unmanned air systems (UAS) were brought to light during a panel discussion on the subject during ethics week. A panel of experts spoke to their areas of expertise in regards to UAV and UAS, responding to Dr. Stephen Hare’s ethical questions in regards to the use of unmanned systems. The panel consisted of Lieutenant-Colonel McGuire, Lieutenant-Colonel LeBouthillier, Lieutenant-Colonel Woods, Major Reimer and Major Fugger.

“Whether manned or unmanned the same level of careful scrutiny is applied/considered before the order to engage is passed on or the pickle button gets pressed”, Said Lieutenant-Colonel Jeff LeBouthillier. Lieutenant-Colonel LeBouthillier was a Target Engagement Authority on Operation Mobile, which was Canada’s contribution to the Libyan intervention, and worked on developing Canadian and NATO targeting doctrine. Lieutenant-Colonel LeBouthillier insisted that there is no difference to the legal and ethical considerations in a decision to strike a target, if that is with a manned aircraft or an unmanned airstrike. It was further brought up in the debate that the use of UAVs allows the authorities who authorize an attack to actually see the situation as it evolves; this allows legal experts and collateral damage estimators to make a better recommendation before the order to use offensive kinetic forces is given, While the use of video streaming is available on RCAF and allied fighters, this technology was retrofitted to the CF-118 Hornet and can be unreliable in certain circumstances.

Lieutenant-Colonel Woods, a CF-118 pilot, spoke of this combat experience working in conjunction with UAVs in Iraq as part of Operation Impact. During some missions he had to return to the tanker to refuel up to eight times, leaving vital time for insurgents to move and operate without observation. These gaps did not exist when working in conjunction with UAVs. The small quiet units operated by coalition forces possessed great sensors are very difficult to detect. Lieutenant-Colonel LeBouthillier notes “The bad guy behaves very differently when they know or think they aren’t being watched”. The longevity of operations with UAVs allows for better situational awareness for commanders. “In my experience, the work I’ve done with UAVs was both very effective and very clean.” Said Lieutenant-Colonel Woods, “Clean in the sense that the engagements were good lawful targets and the UAV assisted immensely in the identification of those targets.”

There seems to be a fear and fundamental distrust of unmanned war machines. The mention of drones often conjures images of a rise of the machines. A key point about the systems currently in use is that there is always a human very much in the loop, which means the UAV, must be prompted by a human being before taking any actions. This insures that a human is involved in the process of determining if a target is valid. This means that a person is directly responsible for any actions the machine makes. Currently humans are so involved in the process that a huge number of operators suffer from PTSD after assisting in combat operations with UAVs.

The use of unmanned machinery in combat situations will progress no matter how the RCAF decides to make use of these new emerging technologies. The RCAF must remain agile, an air force vector, in regards to the innovative use of UASs. The best way to gain knowledge of the limitations and strengths of UASs and UAVs is to use them. The CDS General Vance spoke in his opening remarks for ethics week of the importance of making the not only legal decision but also the ethical decision. He states that the Canadian Forces is scrutinized like never before by the general public with the use of social media. The instant uploading of videos and photos from conflict zones involving Canadian Forces allows people to instantly judge the actions of the CF. With UAVs we can give targeting authorities the ability to maintain a much greater situation awareness and make a much clearer, more ethical decision.

The debate on UAVs was just part of the activities and events surrounding ethics week in the NCR. Other highlights include presentations from L1’s; ADM(RS),Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Air Force, ADM(S&T), ADM(Mat), ADM (HR(Civ)) / DG Strategic Response Team - Sexual Misconduct, CJOC, CMP – Chaplain. Various discussions took place throughout the week surrounding subjects ranging from the ethics of Information Security to Webinars on Ethical Leadership.