Tri-Service

The RAF Drones That Could Kill Without Human Approval

Article by Kate Wathall

RAF Drones currently being built could kill without the need for human decision-making.

The drone, named Taranis after the Celtic god of thunder, is currently being developed and tested by BAE Systems for both the British and French militaries.

It's designed to avoid radar and infrared detection, meaning it can approach with stealth for surveillance or attack.

I spoke to a member of the development team to find out more - click below to watch...

Through artificial intelligence the drone can taxi, take off and fly autonomously, periodically asking for permission to take certain actions.

Ahead of a mission it can plan a route to avoid potential threats, but can also respond to and avoid threats which may arise, such as missiles, through a series of sensors.

For surveillance it can be told to look for certain targets like people, tanks or buildings, sift through its findings and present only what it 'thinks' is relevant back to humans on the ground.

Forces TV's Kate Gerbeau spoke to Professor Michael Clarke, the former Director General of the Royal United Services Institute, about the future of autonomous drones - just click below to watch.

It can then assess whether to engage or launch its weapons, similar to that of the Typhoon jet, or go back to gather more information.

Currently, it is a requirement of international law to have human intervention on unmanned strike vehicles, and at the moment that's what these use.

A series of check points require a human go ahead, but should laws change in the future, the capability is there to cut out the middleman and have them operate completely autonomously.

The current aim is to have these ready for use by the RAF by 2030, and as it stands they will be in human control.

More: UN Urged to Ban "Killer Robots"