DefenceTalkA global rights group launched a campaign on Tuesday to ban Terminator-style “killer robots” amid fears the rise of drone warfare could lead to machines with the power to make their own decisions about killing humans. Human Rights Watch said it was creating an international coalition to call for a global treaty that would impose […]https://www.defencetalk.com/rights-group-launches-campaign-to-ban-killer-robots-47593/

DefenceTalkDefense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Monday cancelled a new combat medal for US troops who launch drone strikes or cyber attacks after a torrent of criticism from veterans and lawmakers. Hagel opted to scrap the new “Distinguished Warfare Medal” for a pin or device that could be added to existing medals to recognize service members […]https://www.defencetalk.com/pentagon-calls-off-new-medal-for-drone-cyber-warriors-47504/

DefenceTalkGermany is in talks with Israel to buy weaponized drones for its military that are seen as more technologically advanced than US ones, the weekly Der Spiegel reported. The news magazine’s Monday edition said the German defence ministry had already held two meetings with Israeli military officials, in November 2012 and February 2013, on the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/germany-looking-to-buy-weaponised-drones-from-israel-47468/

DefenceTalkUnder the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, P.L. 112-95, Congress has tasked the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with integrating unmanned aircraft systems (UASs), sometimes referred to as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones, into the national airspace system by September 2015. Although the text of this act places safety as a predominant concern, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/integration-of-drones-into-domestic-airspace-selected-legal-issues-2-47402/

DefenceTalkWhen we think of drones we think of flying killing machines in Pakistan. But as the US tries to write rules for the technology, people are realizing that very different kinds of drones could change the way we live. Probably the best illustration of the vivid fears and awesome powers associated with drones was delivered […]https://www.defencetalk.com/game-of-drones-47299/

DefenceTalkThe United Arab Emirates said on Monday it signed 17 defence contracts to purchase military equipment worth $1.4 billion including US manufactured Predator drones. The contracts were signed during the ongoing International Defence Exhibition & Conference, IDEX. “The total value of today’s contracts has reached 5.2 billion dirhams” ($1.42 billion), said Staff Major General Obaid […]https://www.defencetalk.com/uae-signs-1-42-bn-defence-deals-46859/

DefenceTalkThe Army plans additional Gray Eagle units, one for each of 10 active-duty divisions, and several more for special operations units, aerial exploitation units and the National Training Center. With the current program of record, a purchase of 152 Gray Eagles in total, the Army won’t have enough of the aircraft to give a full […]https://www.defencetalk.com/army-divisions-will-get-nine-gray-eagles-uavs-to-train-but-deploy-with-12-46681/

DefenceTalkUnder the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, P.L. 112-95, Congress has tasked the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with integrating unmanned aircraft systems (UASs), sometimes referred to as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones, into the national airspace system by September 2015. Although the text of this act places safety as a predominant concern, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/integration-of-drones-into-domestic-airspace-selected-legal-issues-46634/

DefenceTalkThe US military plans to set up a base for drones in northwest Africa to bolster surveillance of Al-Qaeda’s affiliate in the region as well as allied Islamist extremists, a US official told AFP on Monday. The base for the robotic, unmanned aircraft would likely be located in Niger, on the eastern border of Mali, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-military-plans-drone-base-near-mali-official-46557/