Drones In Warfare Essay

Should drones be used in warfare? It’s necessary to learn about drones—what they are, and how they are used—before determining the answer. The Air Force calls them Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, or simply UVAs. There are dozens of them flying over countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq, providing intelligence and surveillance. Since September 11, 2001, the US has been fighting the “War on Terror”, in which drones are used to kill suspected terrorists. Drones have changed the pattern of warfare and military outcomes.
Drones are flown by pilots thousands of miles away, controlled from remote bases like Creech Air Force Base, where no pilot ever leaves the ground. The base is located 45 miles north of the Las Vegas Strip. Drones help support military troops on the ground by giving them a bird’s eye view, utilizing sophisticated imaging and radar technologies. Drones are mainly used to find and target individuals or small groups. The government claims that with the help of drones, they have eliminated up to 70% of al Qaeda’s
The Predator has a satellite control system in the cockpit, to help provide a live stream back to base, and holds two Hellfire missiles. It uses a sensor ball which holds image intensifiers, radar, infra-red imaging for low-light conditions, and lasers for targeting. The sensor ball fires a targeting laser, and once a missile is fired, the seeker on the missile locates the exact spot the laser is targeting and can strike up to five miles away with high accuracy. The Predator weighs about 2,000 pounds, with a maximum speed of 135 miles per hour, and can fly for 40 hours without refueling. According to airforce-technology.com, the Reaper has better quality features: it can reach a maximum of 300 miles per hour, carry an external payload of 3,000 pounds, fly up to 5,000 feet, and hold four Hellfire missiles and two laser-guided