Ethics and Morality ASCI 638 - 9.6

(Serle, 2017)

I do believe that UAS is a valuable asset and should continue to be used for warfare.  Professor Strawser, of the Naval Postgraduate School, has stated “all the evidence we have so far suggests that drones do better at both identifying the terrorist and avoiding collateral damage than anything else we have” (Shane, 2012).  UAS operators can observe targets for hours or days prior to a strike.  This is significantly longer than any manned aircraft, or boots on the ground.  This observation also allows them to time a strike for when innocents are not nearby, while providing a view that would allow a launched strike to be diverted in innocents happen to walk in (Shane, 2012).  Based on results from targeted strikes in Pakistan fewer civilians were killed than other modes of warfare. Even taking into account the wide ratio of reported of civilian victims to combatant deaths that range from 4% to 20% depending upon the report (Shane, 2012).

President Obama stated that for targeted UAS strikes the US would uphold the highest standards in defending that nation’s security. President Obama stated, “That means taking strikes only when we face a continuing, imminent threat, and only where there is near certainty of no civilian casualties” (Peterson, 2016).  In 2016 the White House released their self-evaluation of the targeted strikes. 116 civilians were killed, and 2,581 combatants were killed in Pakistan (Peterson, 2016). As mentioned in the previous paragraph the actual numbers are questions by other independent sources.

            To improve the use of UAS for warfare there are several options.  UAS manufactures are continuing to improve the UAS themselves, becoming more fuel efficient, improved imagery sensors, improving the GCA and addressing any shortcoming of the UAS. This is standard growth and improvement of an industry, make the product better. We should also strive to improve the policy behind targeted strikes.

The CIA states that any targets for UAS strikes go through a careful review policy done by the most senior officials, the President is ultimately responsible for any strike (Peterson, 2016). This review process is largely secret, and details are not released.  Congress should have some oversight in this starting with mandatory reporting on any strike. Such reports “contain both classified sections and unclassified sections in which the administration provides a legal and policy analysis of any use of force in self-defense or other uses of force outside traditional battlefields" (Brooks, 2013). This would allow oversight of any decisions made, along with recommendations for how to improve the process. Unclassified versions of any legal memorandum related to targeted strikes should also be released, so the public understands on how these strikes are being conducted. This would allow for more educated public debate on targeted strikes.

References

Brooks, R. (2013, April 11). 10 Ways to Fix the Drone War. Retrieved March 10, 2018, from http://foreignpolicy.com/2013/04/11/10-ways-to-fix-the-drone-war/

Peterson, M. (2016, August 18). Is Obama's Drone War Moral? Retrieved March 10, 2018, from https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2016/08/obama-drone-morality/496433/

Shane, S. (2012, July 14). The Moral Case for Drones. Retrieved March 10, 2018, from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/15/sunday-review/the-moral-case-for-drones.html

Serle, J. (2017, February 06). Suspected drone strikes kill 12 civilians in Yemen. Retrieved March 10, 2018, from https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2012-05-15/suspected-drone-strikes-kill-12-civilians-in-yemen

UAS Crew Member Selection ASCI 638 - 8.6

ScanEagle Launch (Gettinger, 2014)

The Insitu ScanEagle is capable of flying above 15,000 feet with a loiter time of around 20 hours. It is autonomously launched by a catapult launcher and recovered with a SkyHook recovery system that catches the edge of the wing as it flies by.  It carries an electro-optic or dual imager inside a gyro-stabilized turret.  It has a modular design, so the camera technology can change as new technologies become available (Boeing, 2017).  The trailer mounted launcher requires 2 people around 10 minutes to set up. The SkyHook recovery system is a separate trailer and is also autonomous, requiring 2 people and around 20 minutes to set up (ScanEagle, 2016). It is capable of BVLOS operations and has numerous flights helping with national disasters worldwide (Insitu Flies, 2017).

The General Atomics Ikhana, a variant of the Predator, is capable of flying above 40,000 feet with a loiter time of around 20 hours. It requires a runway for both launch and recovery. A GCS is required for operations as well. It is inside a trailer and houses the pilot’s instruments and controls as well as computer workstations for payload operators. It is capable of BVLOS operations and has done so around the world (Ikhana Unmanned Science, 2015).

Insitu provides training for UAS operators.  There is a 10-week long course to become a UAS operator.  It should be required as part of the initial training program to attend this course, unless the new hire is already a trained operator of the ScanEagle.  Any maintenance personnel can attend the 5-week maintainer course. The maintainers can be trained to launch and recover the UAS. Because of the long endurance capability, it can exceed normal crew duty day, maximum of 12 hours.  If operations extend that long, additional personnel would be required, as well as shift hand over checklist developed.

Ikhana (Clements, 2012)

The Ikhana requires a pilot, a payload operator and maintainers.  General Atomics provides training for this as well.  There is an 8-week long course, this covers both pilots and sensor operators. The sensor operators will graduate with less total hours, but the training is similar in duration. General Atomics requires a pilot to possess a bachelor’s degree, a FAA commercial instrument pilot ratings and 300 hours as pilot in command.  Sensor operators require a private pilots license. Both require a Class II FAA medical certificate and a security clearance (GA-ASI, 2016). Previous certification in the system could eliminate the need for this training. If the missions will extend beyond 12 hours additional crews would be required, along with shift hand over checklists.

Any flights that are over 400 feet in altitude or are BVLOS require a Part 107 Waiver from the FAA. These can take up to 90 days to process.  Any flights within controlled airspace; B, C, D or surface E also require this waiver (Request a Waiver, 2018).  All pilots would be required to pass an aeronautical knowledge test at an FAA facility (Fly Under, 2017).

References

Boeing Historical Snapshot. (2017). Retrieved March 03, 2018, from http://www.boeing.com/history/products/scaneagle-unmanned-aerial-vehicle.page

Clements, R. (2012, March 29). NASA's Ikhana MQ-9 Drone Flies With ADS-B Equipment for the First Time. Retrieved March 03, 2018, from https://theaviationist.com/2012/03/29/ikhana-mq-9-adsb/

Fly under the Small UAS Rule. (2017, December 14). Retrieved March 03, 2018, from https://www.faa.gov/uas/getting_started/part_107/

GA-ASI UAS Flight Training Academy Graduates First Aircrews. (2016, August 25). Retrieved March 03, 2018, from http://www.ga.com/ga-asi-uas-flight-training-academy-graduates-first-aircrews

Gettinger, D. (2014, January 6). ScanEagle: A Small Drone Making a Big Impact. Retrieved March 03, 2018, from http://dronecenter.bard.edu/scaneagle-drone/

Ikhana Unmanned Science and Research Aircraft System. (2015, August 06). Retrieved March 03, 2018, from https://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/news/FactSheets/FS-097-DFRC.html

Insitu Flies ScanEagle UAS for Disaster Relief and Fire Suppression Missions. (2017, November 28). Retrieved March 03, 2018, from https://insitu.com/press-releases/Insitu-Flies-ScanEagle-for-Disaster-Relief-and-Fire-Suppression

Request a Part 107 Waiver or Operation in Controlled Airspace. (2018, March 02). Retrieved March 03, 2018, from https://www.faa.gov/uas/request_waiver/

ScanEagle. (2016). Retrieved March 03, 2018, from https://insitu.com/information-delivery/unmanned-systems/scaneagle#3