Drones have captured the collective imagination like few other technologies in recent history: while the use of unmanned aerial vehicles is spreading beyond militaries and is rapidly extending to a variety of civilian and even commercial sectors, it is their potential to change the conduct of warfare and, by extension, the way in which we define and understand military conflict that has focused public attention. The ongoing debate has made drones - a much catchier term than the cumbersome 'unmanned aerial vehicles' or 'remotely piloted air systems' - a ubiquitous media presence the world over, as their increased use in surveillance functions and in targeted strikes over the past few years has drawn political pundits, legal experts, military practitioners and human-rights activists into debates about the strategic, operational and ethical implications of this new technology.
展开▼
