ABSTRACT
As more armed drones become available to more states, the degree of political willingness and the number of perceived opportunities to use them are likely to increase. From an ethical perspective, the challenge posed by more frequent drone use is to guard against any associated increase in the number of unjust decisions to resort to force at all. In 2011 a UK Ministry of Defence Joint Doctrine Note warned
It is essential that, before unmanned systems become ubiquitous (if it is not already too late), we… ensure that, by removing some of the horror, or at least keeping it at a distance, we do not risk losing our controlling humanity and make war more likely.1
