The
rapid development of remotely piloted air systems (commonly called
“drones”) by the UK Armed Forces over the past decade has
contributed greatly to the effectiveness of military operations in Iraq and
Afghanistan, says a report, published today, by the Defence Select Committee.
The provision of enhanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support
to our troops on the ground has undoubtedly saved lives and prevented
casualties.
There has been an increasingly contentious debate in the
UK in recent years surrounding the development and use of Remotely Piloted Air
Systems (RPAS), mainly due to a lack of information or misunderstanding about
their operation, function and potential present or future use.
The
Committee visited the personnel of XIII Squadron, RAF Waddington, responsible
for operating the RAF’s Reaper aircraft. Reaper pilots have a mix of
previous experience, having flown aircraft as diverse as Harrier, Nimrod and
Tornado. Personnel were keen for the public to understand better what it is
they do and to dispel myths that have grown up about Reaper operations in
particular.
Chairman of the Committee, Rt Hon James Arbuthnot MP,
says,
"It is very clear that UK aircrews are experienced
professional personnel with a clear purpose and keen understanding of the Rules
of Engagement which govern their operations. These are no video gaming
“warrior geeks” as some would portray them. Despite being remote
from the battle space they exhibit a strong sense of connection to the life and
death decisions they are sometimes required to take."
The
Committee is satisfied that a robust system is in place to review every
remotely piloted aircraft weapons discharge by a UK aircraft. However, the
report recognises the desire of some interested organisations and the public to
see a greater degree of disclosure from the MoD.
Chairman of the Committee, Rt Hon James Arbuthnot,
says,
"It is vital that a clear distinction be drawn
between the actions of UK Armed Forces operating remotely piloted air systems
in Afghanistan and those of other States elsewhere. On the basis of the
evidence we have received we are satisfied that UK remotely piloted air system
operations comply fully with international law."
The
United Nations Special Rapporteur, Ben Emmerson QC, has said recently that in
any case in which civilians have been, or appear to have been, killed, there is
an obligation on the State responsible to conduct a prompt, independent and
impartial fact-finding inquiry and to provide a detailed public explanation.
However there are a number of legal questions on which there is no clear
international consensus. The Committee urges the MOD, to the extent that it is
operationally secure to do so, to seek to publish details about any incident
involving civilian casualties and any lessons learned from review processes.
The Committee recommends that the UK Government engage actively in the debate
on a legal framework for use of RPAS and report on the progress which is
made.
As
part of the next Strategic Defence and Security Review in 2015, the MoD has a
strategic choice to make about the future direction for UK RPAS. Until now, all
UK unmanned air systems have been funded as urgent operational requirements,
rather than being budgeted for in the long-term. Post-Afghanistan, a commitment
to the existing partnership arrangements with the US Air Force, including a
continuing presence at Creech Airforce Base in Nevada, would provide the RAF
with access to future upgrades to the Reaper platform and training
opportunities for UK Reaper aircrew. Training in the UK would be extremely
difficult due to current European airspace restrictions. However, with other
European NATO nations now operating Reaper it may be advantageous to form more
collaborative arrangements at a European level. The Committee recommends that
the MoD clarifies its intentions and explains how European level co-operation
can be co-ordinated with existing bi-lateral partnership
projects.
Further information