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The drone or unmanned aerial vehicle has many operational advantages, the main one being that it can reduce the combatant's exposure to enemy fire. Initially designed for intelligence gathering, the UAV's range of missions is gradually widening to include all those of manned aircraft. Yet its limitations, the need to maintain contact with the adversary & its acquisition cost suggest that the airman is not about to quit his cockpit. Adapted from the source document.

Armed drones are regarded as illegal in the eyes of international humanitarian law. In reality, they are simply new instruments of war, operated at greater distance from the opponent and which permit more discriminating attacks than traditional arms. Their increasing autonomy raises many questions which must be taken into account by new international regulations. (Politique étrangère (Paris) / SWP)

Drones have been in use for around 50 years, but have developed rapidly since 2001, the year of the first operational armed drone flight. Their swift progress has opened up new strategic horizons. In particular, drones allow "aerial occupation of the ground" whilst minimizing risks and losses for the offensive force. Their use, however, does not only present advantages and political decision makers would be wrong to make light use of them. (Politique étrangère (Paris) / SWP)