Are there armed drones in america

In the air, on land, and at sea, unmanned platforms are becoming increasingly prevalent, but aviators, ground troops, and sailors need not fret. The U. Alex Hollings is a writer, dad, and Marine veteran who specializes in foreign policy and defense technology analysis.

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Despite working thousands of miles away from the physical impact of the strikes, many drone pilots experience worrying levels of anxiety, depression, severe stress , and moral injury. Moreover, the military has had a difficult time retaining drone pilots. Long hours—often between three to six times the maximum annual flight hours of regular Air Force pilots—play a major role. The U. The lack of oversight, transparency, and accountability of the U.

As of , over three dozen other countries have acquired armed drones, many of which are developing their own drone programs. Non-state groups, including ISIS, have also acquired armed drones. Currently, hundreds of companies are developing small and large-scale drone technology, and both state and non-state actors are seeking to integrate drone technology into their military programs. Experts suggest that drone capabilities will rise dramatically in the coming years. It is past time to pause and evaluate the outcomes of U.

Congress should fully investigate the long-term impacts of drone warfare. We as a country must ask ourselves some serious questions. Aside from the moral issues raised by drone use, there are real questions about their impact on the future of U. What has been the impact of drones on U. Has the drone program actually been effective at countering terrorism? What happens when the United States no longer dominates over this technology? What can be done to prevent non-state armed groups from acquiring drones?

The United States, together with the international community, must recognize these challenges and begin to outline restrictions and accountability for drone use. Restraining the use of drones worldwide is undoubtedly in the best interest of a more just and peaceful world. The challenge in establishing international norms for armed drones will be to define rules that preserve the rights of countries to use them in legitimate ways against legitimate threats senior al Qaeda or Islamic State terrorists while constraining illegitimate uses political dissidents.

More than 70 countries have acquired drones of different classes and for different purposes. And smaller still is the number of those countries developing long-range armed systems. On February 17, , the Obama administration announced a new policy setting standards for exporting and using armed drones, which will allow for the wider export of armed drones to allied nations.

To dispel some of the myths that have arisen with respect to the use of long-range armed drones, a panel of RAND experts briefed Congress on March 3,