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Thread: Using drones: principles, tactics and results (amended title)

  1. #321
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    Default Military Drones Flood War Skies Over Syria, Iraq

    Military Drones Flood War Skies Over Syria, Iraq

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  2. #322
    Council Member davidbfpo's Avatar
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    Default Targeted killings: a British debate

    Two recent contributions to the debate here, responding to the recent Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR), entitled 'The Government’s policy on the use of drones for targeted killings'.

    First from a post-doctoral researcher @ Birmingham University:http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research...d-killing.aspx

    A more detailed, still short Policy Exchange article (labelled by some as neo-con), by a lawyer and a MP with military experience:http://www.policyexchange.org.uk/publications/category/item/critically-assessing-the-joint-committee-on-human-rights-report-on-drone-warfare-2?
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    Default Game of Drones: Center for a New American Security Wargame Report

    Game of Drones: Center for a New American Security Wargame Report

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  4. #324
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    Default Game changer or just media hype?

    Prompted by the deaths in Kurdistan from an ISIS booby-trapped drone two reviews of where the world is with flying IEDs.

    First the BBC:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-37638982 and then WoTR, which notes:
    ..almost 10 percent of U.S. defense research and development funds goes into such systems which range from jamming rifles to lasers to other drones.
    Link:http://warontherocks.com/2016/10/fly...xt-big-threat/
    Last edited by davidbfpo; 10-13-2016 at 03:31 PM. Reason: 104,937v
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  5. #325
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    Default A must read on the possible future

    A must read on WoTR:http://warontherocks.com/2016/10/the...and-the-drone/

    The author T.X. Hammes ends with:
    As they become pervasive, we can expect to see insurgents and terrorists use them very creatively. It is essential we make use of the very short time available to develop defenses against these systems.
    A contrary view (the next day):http://warontherocks.com/2016/10/why...arely-started/
    Last edited by davidbfpo; 10-19-2016 at 01:03 PM. Reason: Add 2nd link. 105,719v
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  6. #326
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    Default Saving Lives in Rwanda, With US-made Drones

    Saving Lives in Rwanda, With US-made Drones

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  7. #327
    Council Member davidbfpo's Avatar
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    Default 'Eye in the Sky' review

    Post 320 refers to the new film on drones, 'Eye in the Sky'and I watched it recently on Netflix. It was excellent in illustrating the dilemmas the operators and commanders face. One SME did comment that the small "fly" drone was not possible, citing the constraints of battery size. Given the focus on hi-tech tools and weapons the role of HUMINT was crucial.
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  8. #328
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    Default Drones over Africa

    A short report on drones over Africa:https://sustainablesecurity.org/2016...ion-in-africa/

    Despite the shamble state of African drones, it is only a matter of time before they do become widespread and used effectively by African governments.
    Last edited by davidbfpo; 11-01-2016 at 07:38 PM. Reason: 114,043v
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  9. #329
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    Default US-Supplied Drones Disappoint Ukraine On Front Lines

    US-Supplied Drones Disappoint Ukraine On Front Lines

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  10. #330
    Council Member AdamG's Avatar
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    Initially, it's believed that the Sharp Sword will be used for reconnaissance in areas with dense air defense networks, as well as tailing foreign warships. As the Chinese develops a familiarity with the Sharp Sword, it could be used for combat operations as a "first through the door" weapon against highly defended, high-value targets, as well as an aerial tanker for other drones and carrier aircraft (akin to plans for the U.S. MQ-25). There is even the possibility of carrier version for China's planned next generation of catapult equipped aircraft carriers.
    http://www.popsci.com/china-sharp-sw...src=SOC&dom=fb
    Last edited by AdamG; 01-20-2017 at 02:47 PM. Reason: Yes, I triple-tapped this article. Relevancy x 3.
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  11. #331
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    Default ISIL & Drones: Understand the Network to Defeat the Network

    ISIL & Drones: Understand the Network to Defeat the Network

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  12. #332
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    Default The Evolution of Punishment: Drones, High-Value Targeting, and the Neurobiology of Me

    The Evolution of Punishment: Drones, High-Value Targeting, and the Neurobiology of Mechanical Justice

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  13. #333
    Council Member davidbfpo's Avatar
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    Default Drones for "grunts"; one enemy is ahead of us?

    Thanks to a WoTR article which looks at the tactical use of drones for the USMC I don't recall a discussion on this theme. Within Opsec rules.

    The WoTR article opens with:
    The mass production of inexpensive commercial drones has revolutionized the entertainment industry, but the true innovators of this field are found within the ranks of the Islamic State. Weaponized quadcopters, fixed-wing drones that drop explosives, and unmanned systems that serve as aerial scouts or spotters are a real and present threat to U.S. forces.

    (Later) The conclusions are that distributed infantry units should each have dedicated and near-constant overhead coverage that can meet a wide range of intelligence, communications, and fire support needs — something only the Reaper can currently accomplish.
    Link:https://warontherocks.com/2017/07/la...y-exploration/

    From my armchair and not wishing to treat this as a USMC-only issue my question is: Can Western armies fight 'small wars' without capable drones?
    Last edited by davidbfpo; 10-20-2017 at 09:54 AM. Reason: Edited before merging into main thread. 1 of 4 posts that were in a stand-alone thread with 4k views.
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  14. #334
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    Default Drones

    There might be a clue to the USA response to drone defense in some previous posts: http://hacking4defense.stanford.edu/
    Last edited by davidbfpo; 10-20-2017 at 09:54 AM. Reason: 2 of 4 posts that were in a stand-alone thread

  15. #335
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    I think the real issues we should be looking at are the massive societal, cultural, and religious changes happening across the globe at an accelerated pace due to variables such as the internet and mass immigration.

    Just as the printing press had a massive impact on medieval Europe, resulting in centuries of bloody wars, both interstate, revolutionary, and civil until leading to the relative peace of the last 7 decades in Europe, so too our we now witnessing similar issues play out on a more global scale.

    With the mass proliferation of commercially available technologies such as 'drones', additive manufacturing, and access to knowledge through mediums such as YouTube, we will continue to chase our proverbial tails if we focus on the technologies will ignoring the stuff that makes us human.

    Long story short, I think we are in for a couple of really bloody centuries until there is a massive change such as the 'Enlightenment' period of Europe.
    Last edited by davidbfpo; 10-20-2017 at 09:55 AM. Reason: 3 of 4 posts that were in a stand-alone thread

  16. #336
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    Quote Originally Posted by davidbfpo View Post
    There is a thread on drones: http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/...ead.php?t=7385 . Thanks to a WoTR article which looks at the tactical use of drones for the USMC I don't recall a discussion on this theme. Within Opsec rules.

    The WoTR article opens with:Link:https://warontherocks.com/2017/07/la...y-exploration/

    From my armchair and not wishing to treat this as a USMC-only issue my question is: Can Western armies fight 'small wars' without capable drones?
    The West has a long history of fighting small wars without drones. Just to be provocative, I propose that the West could perhaps fight small wars more effectively without drones, because it would force us to develop a strategic approach beyond our excessive focus (and in some cases sole focus)on targeting individuals. Of course in reality, targeting is a key element in any war, and I don't suggest we throw the baby out with the bathwater, but we need to subordinate targeting to the larger strategy. In some cases, targeting will be a main effort, and drones will appropriately play a key role, but I think we tend to default to targeting before we really think through the problem and what we want to accomplish.
    Last edited by davidbfpo; 10-20-2017 at 09:55 AM. Reason: 4 of 4 posts that were in a stand-alone thread

  17. #337
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    Default Trump’s Special Ops Pick Says Terror Drones Might Soon Reach the US from Africa. How

    Trump’s Special Ops Pick Says Terror Drones Might Soon Reach the US from Africa. How Worried Should We Be?

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  18. #338
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    Default Time to focus on the UK's use of drones

    This week marks the tenth anniversary of the RAF using drones, known as Reaper and Birmingham University's ICCS & Oxford Research Group's Remote Control Project - with a wide range of opinions present. A full transcript of the presentations will appear soon.

    There is a three year old report by ICCS on drones:https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools...ct-drones.aspx

    A couple of snippets: Peter Lee, a teacher @ RAF Cranwell, was a RAF Chaplain for seven years and is writing a book on RAF Reaper operations, including sitting with the operators. The book is due out next year.

    One speaker referred to the USA seeking to change the Missile Technology Control Regime agreement, to enable commercial sales. See:https://www.reuters.com/article/us-t...-idUSKBN1CG0F4

    Thanks to a "lurker" for the pointer to this Lawfare article:https://www.lawfareblog.com/united-k...lication-0-302
    Last edited by davidbfpo; 10-20-2017 at 10:58 AM.
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  19. #339
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    Default A US$2m investment

    Mentioned at the B'ham conference was the emergence the story that drone technology depended on a small group of individuals, especially Neal Blue who for US$2m acquired the designer's company. Short story from a critical blogsite:
    The Predator drone was actually created by Israeli named Abroham Karem, who had helped design Israel's first drones for use in the Yom Kippur war. In the 1980s, Karem moved to Orange County and set up a small shop with DARPA funding to replicate and improve the technology here.His company was called Leading Systems, and had already developed a working Predator drone prototype that was cheaper and more reliable than what good ol' boy defense companies like Lockheed Martin could crank out. Karem made an elegant and efficient product it, but it wasn't getting much love in the DoD.
    It needed a power-salesman and a lot of money to grease the procurement process. And that's what the Blue brothers, and their man Cassidy, brought to the table.
    Link:https://www.alternet.org/investigati...y-strange-past
    Last edited by davidbfpo; 10-20-2017 at 10:25 AM. Reason: 169,398v
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  20. #340
    Council Member AdamG's Avatar
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    Default Tactical Logistics /non-combatant Drones

    No precedent thread found, so stand-alone for now.

    While this is a great idea for an NGO, also seems like a good way to push fresh Combat LifeSaver Bags (or ammo boxes) up without risking one of your guys getting shot.

    'Uber for blood': how Rwandan delivery robots are saving lives
    A Silicon Valley robotics company has teamed up with the Rwandan health ministry to hasten the delivery of vital medicines to hospitals in remote areas
    https://www.theguardian.com/global-d...ng-blood-drone

    Figuring someone else must have had the same thought, checked. Turns out it's called the Joint Tactical Aerial Resupply Vehicle (JTARV).

    Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert O. Work (center) asks questions about the Joint Tactical Aerial Resupply Vehicle, or JTARV, a rectangular-shaped quadcopter that currently carries up to 300 pounds of cargo. (Photo Credit: Jhi Scott, ARL Public Affairs)
    “In a firefight, when a Soldier is running low on ammunition, resupply is critical,” said Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Guenther, an enlisted advisor at the laboratory. “I’ve had situations where speedballs were dropped off to me by helicopters.”
    In the military context, a “speedball” refers to a bag of supplies, usually ammunition, dropped from a plane or helicopter to soldiers in the field.
    “What are the implications of that?” asked Army researcher Tim Vong. “We’re working with users in the joint community to look at this concept.”
    https://scout.com/military/warrior/A...tion-101456371

    See also https://www.theverge.com/2017/1/18/1...ply-autonomous

    How long are you Chinese guys going to wait before stealing this idea?
    Last edited by davidbfpo; 10-29-2018 at 08:20 PM. Reason: Was in stand alone thread with 5932v till merged
    A scrimmage in a Border Station
    A canter down some dark defile
    Two thousand pounds of education
    Drops to a ten-rupee jezail


    http://i.imgur.com/IPT1uLH.jpg

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