Internazionale February 2018 Armed drones on the European media
Table of contents 2 turmoil in the uk The Defence Strategy gives unexpected support MoD ‘in chaos’ over drone use outside to research in international law - to the great of war zones dissatisfaction of the Danish Folk Party Opinion: UK government silence on armed Portugal government try to regulate the use of drones policy is untenable commercial drones Will we be all spied upon by drones? 3 the drone race France lines up armed drones amid plans the industry grows to boost military spending 9 U.S., Israeli drone makers keep wary eye on New drone radiation detection system: rising Chinese helicopters not needed anymore Fyn in the spotlight: drones to create 150,000 The Belgian army is getting drones as wide jobs in the next 30 years as boeing: they can even fire missiles drones in the wrong hands New defence strategy: drones on fyn 10 Home-made drones now threaten conventional and veteran initiatives armed forces The ‘globalisation’ of China’s military power Foreign press: the drone, the new guerilla Ready for war weapon ‘We can be proud of what we are doing’ Criminals have their interest in drones as well A Avord, Florence Parly makes promises Europe will see increase in terror in 2018, as to Air Forces foreign Isil fighters ‘return home with high-tech Italian military budget will rise in 2018 skills’ A research shows the risks of malicious use of AI beware of the drone 6 Hackers will fight the drone war In Pyeongchang, drones have to take other drones out of the sky 12 drone traffic in the middle east Drone interceptors and aerial facial recognition: Syrian air defence has shot down an Israeli high tech defense systems at the fighter jet – Israel has responded with airstrikes Winter Olympics against 12 targets in Syria An anti-drone gun tested in Davos Clash between Iran and Israel Attack on the killer robots 13 polish creativity Us vs autonomous weapons Farming lobby plans slaughter of wild boars European regulator proposes hack protection, through the use of drones, thermal vision, and geo-awareness for drones massive shooting Where eagles dare: Swiss get talons into drone It is time to enter the 3rd dimension risk
Sources
• Bbc United Kingdom • iDNES Czech Republic • Le Monde France • The Economist United • Corriere della Sera Italy • Information Denmark • Les Echos France Kingdom • De Tijd Belgium • Interia Poland • Libération France • The Guardian United Kingdom • De Vliegende Hollander • Jornal de Noticias Portugal • Politico Europe edition • The Herald Scotland United Netherlands • Junge Welt Germany • Politiken Denmark Kingdom • Express Belgium • La Repubblica Italy • Público Portugal • The Irish Independent Ireland • Fyens Stiftstidende Denmark • La Stampa Italy • Reuters United Kingdom • The Times United Kingdom • Het Nieuwsblad Belgium • Le Matin Switzerland • Rzeczpospolita Poland • Wp Poland
Brought to you by Alessio Marchionna, Giulia Testa and Eugenio Pizzorno, Internazionale, in collaboration with VoxEurop | 2018. Design by Pasquale Cavorsi. TURMOIL IN THE UK
MoD ‘in chaos’ over drone use outside of war zones 3 Feb 2018 Jamie Doward, The Guardian, United Kingdom Campaigners have demanded that the Ministry of Defence clarify whether it permits the use of lethal force by drones against suspected terrorists anywhere in the world, since their use in conflict zones has become more prevalent. Human rights groups have long suspected that, under certain exceptional circumstances, the UK will target threats outside conflict zones – a legally grey area. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/03/drones-gavin-williamson-mod-isis
Opinion: UK government silence on armed drones policy is untenable 4 Feb 2018 Jen Gibson, The Herald Scotland, United Kingdom After years of lack of clarity, in September 2017 the UK Government issued an official document on the use of drones, stating that the UK has had a “practice of targeting suspected terrorists outside of the armed conflict itself ”. The Defence Secretary and the Prime Minister should come before Parliament, publish their policy and have an open and honest debate about where the limits of their powers should lie. http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/15918596.UK_Government_can_no_longer_be_silent_on_ drone_assassination_policy/
February 2018 2 THE DRONE RACE
France lines up armed drones amid plans to boost military spending 8 Feb 2018 The Irish Independent, Ireland The French defence minister presented a bill foreseeing 295 billion euros in overall defence spending from 2019 to 2025, namely 2% of the country’s GDP, in line with what Nato wants from all members. The bill also includes France’s first armed drones and new nuclear combat submarines. The bill will go to parliament and will be voted this summer. https://www.independent.ie/world-news/france-lines-up-armed-drones-amid-plans-to-boost- military-spending-36582538.html
New drone radiation detection system: helicopters not needed anymore 8 Feb 2018 Frantisek Jirku, iDNES, Czech Republic The Czech Military Technical Institute and the Nuvia company have presented their new product – a first of a kind drone capable of measuring ground radiation and evaluating results in real time. This system can be used by the military, rescue workers, research centers and private companies. Its deployment is ten times cheaper compared to helicopter monitoring. https://jihlava.idnes.cz/radiace-dron-nuvia-trebic-system-vysocina-vojensky-technicky-ustav- 1gp-/jihlava-zpravy.aspx?c=A180208_153216_ jihlava-zpravy_mv
The Belgian army is getting drones as wide as boeing: they can even fire missiles 9 Feb 2018 Tex van Berlaer, Het Nieuwsblad, Belgium With the purchase of 4 drones, the Belgian military is moving towards the 21st century, joining the exclusive club of European countries who operate these unmanned aircrafts. The news for Belgium is that these drones can also fire missiles. However, the Belgian Minister of Defence stated that these are ‘armable’ drones but they are not yet ‘armed’. https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20180209_03347619
New defence strategy: drones on fyn and veteran initiatives 9 Feb 2018 Jane Heitmann, Fyens Stiftstidende, Denmark The world has changed and threat scenarios worsened. The new Defence Strategy addresses this and takes an important step towards ensuring a safe Denmark for many years to come. It has become necessary to research and implement the use of new technologies. The military supports Fyn’s leading work on drone technology through cooperation with the drone test centre in Odens. We have to think of the safety of those
February 2018 3 who get sent into battle, we must ensure that those who take care of us get all the help they need. We need more people to defend the Danish borders at a time when our democracy is under pressure. https://www.fyens.dk/debatfaa/Debat-Nyt-forsvarsforlig-droner-paa-Fyn-og-veteranindsats/ artikel/3229343
The ‘globalisation’ of China’s military power 13 Feb 2018 Jonathan Marcus, Bbc, United Kingdom China’s modernization of its armed forces is proceeding faster than many analysts expected and the dominance of the US may be increasingly challenged. China is also growing as a commercial threat in the UAV market, exporting to a growing number of countries. A Western European country may never face China in a conflict, but it could well face sophisticated Chinese weapons systems in the hands of others. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-43036302 FONTE: BBC FONTE:
Ready for war 17 Feb 2018 Jörg Kronauer, Junge Welt, Germany Nato countries are rapidly building up a new stock of military weapons to face the enemy from the east, namely Russia. In this phase, that sees Germany play a key role, drone technology has become central. In the summer of 2016 the German army had 567 drones, today they are around 800. Companies such as Airbus, the French Dassault Aviation and the Italian Leonardo are working at a European war drone that could see the light in 2025. https://www.jungewelt.de/artikel/327471.fit-f%C3%BCr-den-krieg. html?sstr=bewaffnete%7CDrohnen
February 2018 4 ‘We can be proud of what we are doing’ 19 Feb 2018 Arno Mechand, De Vliegende Hollander, Netherlands The Commander of the Royal Netherlands Air Force outlines his thoughts on the increased military spending, and the future of the military. Particularly the purchase of the MQ-9 Reaper is considered to be urgent. The Commander stated that the drones are expected to arrive somewhere in 2019-2020, and that analysts are already training with an Italian reaper from Ramstein airbase. https://magazines.defensie.nl/vliegendehollander/2018/01/01_interview
A Avord, Florence Parly makes promises to Air Forces 23 Feb 2018 Pierre Alonso, Libération, France From the military base of Avord, France’s Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly has announced the Defense’s budget plans for the next 5 years. The annual budget for nuclear deterrence will double, from 2.5 to 5 billion euros. In 2019 the French Air Force will receive their first armed drones. The minister wants to pursue European drone programs both for surveillance and combat purposes. http://www.liberation.fr/france/2018/02/23/a-avord-florence-parly-vend-ses-promesses-a-l- armee-de-l-air_1631735
Italian military budget will rise in 2018 9 Feb 2018 Marco Tedeschi, La Stampa, Italy The MIL€X 2018 report shows a growing increment of Italian military expenditure: 2.5 billion euros in 2018 (1,4% of GDP). The program for national rearmament plans to acquire new battleships for the navy, tanks and helicopters for the army, Typhoon e F-35 aircrafts for the air force and drones manufactured by Piaggio. A significant amount of funds are also assigned to hosting U.S. nuclear weapons. http://www.lastampa.it/2018/02/09/scienza/ambiente/focus/nel-spese-militari-italiane-in- aumento-8CVAvvJj0dWrkziClYMoCJ/pagina.html
February 2018 5 BEWARE OF THE DRONE
In Pyeongchang, drones have to take other drones out of the sky 6 Feb 2018 Marc Horckmans, Express, Belgium South Korea is deploying drones to provide security during the Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. The drones will be used to intercept other unidentified flying objects, using a net to catch them and make them fall to the ground. There are worries a drone could be used to bring bombs into stadiums during the games. Several exercises were held, including one in which an armed drone would target a bus full of athletes. https://nl.express.live/2018/02/06/pyeongchang-moeten-drones-gevaarlijke-drones-uit-de-lucht- halen
Drone interceptors and aerial facial recognition: high tech defense systems at the Winter Olympics 05 Feb 2018 Simone Cosimi, La Repubblica, Italy Hight tech systems will be deployed in South Korea by the Pyeongchang Olympics anti- Terrorism and Safety Headquarters to prevent attacks during the Winter Olympics. Anti- drone systems developed by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology will be able to capture with nets any unauthorized UAV. High definition cameras mounted on surveillance aircrafts will be monitoring up to 20 areas deemed at risk. http://www.repubblica.it/tecnologia/sicurezza/2018/02/05/news/droni_intercettori_e_ riconoscimento_ facciale_aereo_le_difese_hi-tech_delle_olimpiadi_invernali-188095841/
An anti-drone gun tested in Davos 7 Feb 2018 Le Matin, Switzerland A new anti-drone gun has been developed by the police of the canton of the Grisons, in Switzerland, and produced by a start-up named Droptec, in view of the WEF in Davos. It looks like a regular gun with a large silencer, and it fits in a briefcase. It fires a net with a range of 50 meters. The gun costs around 5000 euros and its possession requires special permits. https://www.lematin.ch/suisse/flingue-antidrone-nouveaute-mondiale/story/14766027
Attack on the killer robots 14 Feb 2018 Janosch Delcker, Politico, Europe edition The development of lethal autonomous weapons which can use “deep learning” to operate in swarms and choose their targets independently, bypassing human control, has triggered fierce debate inside the armed forces of many countries. While the UN has not been able to agree on what defines fully autonomous lethal weapons, a global coalition of 65 human rights non governmental organizations is fighting to ban them. https://www.politico.eu/article/attack-killer-robots-autonomous-weapons-drones/
February 2018 6 Us vs autonomous weapons 16 Feb 2018 Interia, Poland World experts working on AI all agree about one thing: the development of any kind of robots, AI and weapons all together must be strictly supervised. We do not stand a chance against autonomous weapons, and some experts demand the so called Lethal Autonomous Weapons to be proscribed. World leaders in the matter, Russia, Israel and the United States remain the most reluctant to introduce regulations about military use of AI. http://nt.interia.pl/news-my-kontra-autonomiczna-bron,nId,2523264
European regulator proposes hack protection, geo-awareness for drones 22 Feb 2018 Reuters, United Kingdom European Aviation Safety Agency has proposed anti-hacking measures and geo- awareness technology for small drones, taking an important step toward Europe-wide regulation. EASA proposed that the operators of drones - excluding very small ones weighing less than 250 grammes - should register themselves, rather than filling out separate paperwork for each new craft. Only the smaller drones weighing less than 900 grams may be flown over people. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-europe-drones/european-regulator-proposes-hack- protection-geo-awareness-for-drones-idUSKCN1G61XZ
Where eagles dare: Swiss get talons into drone risk 26 Feb 2018 Charles Bremner, The Times, United Kingdom Police in Geneva are training two young eagles to intercept and seize drones flying near sensitive sites. The number of UAV in Switzerland has risen to nearly 200,000 in the past year. But only a handful of aerial collisions involving drones have been reported around the world. Raptors have been tried out as drone interceptors in the United States and Europe, with mixed success. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/where-eagles-dare-swiss-get-talons-into-drone-risk- hl3vwz3kg THE TIMESTHE
February 2018 7 The Defence Strategy gives unexpected support to research in international law - to the great dissatisfaction of the Danish Folk Party 21 Feb 2018 Morten Frich, Information, Denmark An important element of the new Defence Strategy is the extra money given to research independent of the military. The Military’s arrangements with the Danish Institute for International Studies and the Centre for Military Studies are strengthened with an additional DKK 15 mill. This money is for the acquisition of expertise in international law and the challenges related to participation in international operations, cyber, drones and high-tech electronic warfare. https://www.information.dk/indland/2018/02/forsvarsforliget-giver-uventet-millionloeft- forskning-folkeretten-dfs-store-utilfredshed
Portugal government try to regulate the use of commercial drones 21 Feb 2018 Rita Marques Costa, Público, Portugal Last week the portuguese minister of infrastructure sent a proposition to the National Commission for Data Protection, the agency responsible for monitoring potential threats to privacy, requiring all owners of commercial drones to enroll in a national registry. In addition, the measure establishes that drone users can record videos only if people in the images are not recognizable. https://www.publico.pt/2018/02/21/sociedade/noticia/comissao-nacional-de-proteccao-de- dados-quer-limites-a-captacao-de-imagem-e-som-por-drones-1803939
Will we be all spied upon by drones? 23 Feb 2018 Leonard Berberi, Corriere della Sera, Italy The EASA has finally delivered to the European Commission a 160 page document that is the draft of an upcoming legislation on drones. Notably, there is a class of “privileged” drones: the very light ones (under 250 grams). These will be able to fly anonymously almost anywhere, equipped with cameras. Today the drones for recreational activities in use in Europe are around 5 thousand and are expected to reach 7 million by 2050. http://www.corriere.it/cronache/18_ febbraio_24/saremo-tutti-spiati-droni-0825c2e4-18e2- 11e8-8324-71c107a2e9b6.shtml
February 2018 8 THE INDUSTRY GROWS
U.S., Israeli drone makers keep wary eye on rising Chinese 8 Feb 2018 Brenda Goh and Gerry Doyle, Reuters, United Kingdom Cheaper Chinese military drones are chipping away at U.S. and Israeli domination of the industry, they cost about $5 million versus up to $100 million for a U.S.-made system. Analysts say that China has not yet taken away any business from U.S. and Israeli drone manufacturers and sells to customers who are unable to afford American and Israeli products. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-singapore-airshow-drones/u-s-israeli-drone-makers-keep- wary-eye-on-rising-chinese-idUSKBN1FS1E7
Fyn in the spotlight: drones to create 150,000 jobs in the next 30 years 6 Feb 2018 Claus Jensen, Fyens Stiftstidende, Denmark The Defence Agreement solidifies Fyn as the heart of Danish drone industry. Clearly, government is prioritising use and development of drones. The military is supporting the drone industry, working with UAS Denmark, the Danish drone centre in Odense, Fyn. This will strengthen the industry and create employment for high and low-skilled workers. According to the European Commission drone technology can create 150,000 jobs and revenues of 15 bil. Euros by 2050. Fyn must take the lead in what could be a big business success for Denmark. Syddansk University conducts research into drone technology alongside research in robotics; these synergies create a world-class research environment. Fyn could be the centre for drone innovation. https://www.fyens.dk/debat/Fyn-i-centrum-Droner-skaber-150000-job-de-naeste-30-aar/ artikel/3228432
February 2018 9 DRONES IN THE WRONG HANDS
Home-made drones now threaten conventional armed forces 8 Feb 2018 The Economist, United Kingdom Since 2015 guerrillas have been conducting a form of asymmetric warfare: cheap disposable drones often built with off-the-shelf components, against very expensive high- tech weapons. Thanks to technologies such as optical navigation, drones are becoming increasingly autonomous and guerrilla drone swarms are surprisingly hard targets. Anti- drone lasers could be the most effective countering system. https://www.economist.com/news/science-and-technology/21736498-their-small-size-and- large-numbers-can-overwhelm-defences-home-made-drones-now
Foreign press: the drone, the new guerilla weapon 9 Feb 2018 Jacques Humbert-Rodier, Les Echos, France “The Economist” underlines how home-made drones have been employed by Daech in Syria, by Russians in Ukraine and narcos in Mexico, and are being used more and more. They have a range of 100 km, are GPS guided and can be constructed and armored with a dozen of fragmentation grenades at a cost of 2000 dollars each. They open a new era asymmetrical warfare: they are not easy to counter, and are a significant threat for soldiers. https://www.lesechos.fr/idees-debats/editos-analyses/0301277371450-presse-etrangere-le- drone-la-nouvelle-arme-de-la-guerilla-2152485.php
Criminals have their interest in drones as well 12 Feb 2018 Grzegorz Balawender, Rzeczpospolita, Poland At first, drones were used as an extension of surveillance systems. Now they are being used in different industries like agriculture or security. The CEO of aeroMind claims their turnover increases by 30 per cent every year and that we can observe the same dynamic across the globe. Unfortunately, drones are also used for smuggling, contact in prisons or industrial espionage. http://www.rp.pl/Biznes/302129957-RZECZoBIZNESIE-Justyna-Siekierczak-Drony- interesuja-takze-przestepcow-w-Polsce.html
Europe will see increase in terror in 2018, as foreign Isil fighters ‘return home with high-tech skills’ 13 Feb 2018 Josie Ensor and Raf Sanchez, The Telegraph, United Kingdom Thousands of foreign fighters are thought to have fled the so-called caliphate in Syria and crossed over the border into Turkey undetected. Jihadists are expected to trickle back to the UK and the continent, bringing with them skills acquired in Syria and Iraq, such as the
February 2018 10 weaponising of drones and the industrialised manufacture of car bombs and IEDs. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/02/13/europe-will-see-increase-terror-2018-foreign- isil-fighters-return/
Isil attacks Iraqi forces with bombs
AMAQ dropped from drone
A research shows the risks of malicious use of AI 21 feb 2018 Morgane Tual, Le Monde, France A research conducted by 26 experts from prestigious universities and non governmental organizations has analyzed the growing use of AI in cybercrime as well as in the manipulation of robots and drones for terrorist purposes. The research analyses a number of dystopian scenarios and warns governments, policy makers and researchers to take these issues seriously in order to prevent future malicious uses of a technology that is rapidly developing. http://www.lemonde.fr/pixels/article/2018/02/21/un-rapport-alerte-sur-les-risques- pour-l-intelligence-artificielle-de-tomber-entre-de-mauvaises-mains_5259984_4408996. html?xtmc=drones_armes&xtcr=3
Hackers will fight the drone war 25 Feb 2018 Jornal de Noticias, Portugal In the immediate future drones will be increasingly used by hackers in many countries for spying expeditions. Governments will not have the monopoly of this kind of operations: private firms and organized crime are also going to use drones with high definition cameras. This development will stimulate the birth of a new defense industry and a new market, with products able to spot and destroy drones. https://www.jn.pt/motor-24/interior/a-futura-guerra-com-drones-vai-ser-feita-por- hackers-9143507.html
February 2018 11 DRONE TRAFFIC IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Syrian air defence has shot down an Israeli fighter jet – Israel has responded with airstrikes against 12 targets in Syria 10 Feb 2018 Emilie Maarbjerg Mørk, Politiken, Denmark An Israeli F-16 fighter jet was shot down by Syrian air defence. The jet was part of an Israeli mission targeting Syrian and Iranian military sites after Israel discovered and shot down an Iranian drone over Israeli territory. A spoke person for the Israeli army calls the drone a “serious breach of Israeli sovereignty” by Iran. It is one of the most serious confrontations between Israel, Iran and Syria since the start of the Syrian war, 2011. Israel has previously shot down drones trying to infiltrate Israeli territory but Israel reacting by bombing Iranian military sites is an escalation. https://politiken.dk/udland/art6335233/Syrisk-luftforsvar-har-skudt-et-israelsk-kampfly-ned
Clash between Iran and Israel 11 Feb 2018 Dries Bervoet, De Tijd, Belgium An Israeli jet was shot down by Syrian air defences after it responded to the intrusion of an Iranian drone. The tension in the area is growing. Though the drone was taken down by an Israeli helicopter, Israeli jets were sent to bomb targets in retaliation. Apart from a drone platform, they also destroyed an arms depot and an air-traffic control tower. The escalation can partially be explained by Israel’s concerns regarding the growing presence of their arch-rival Iran on the Syrian border. https://www.tijd.be/politiek-economie/internationaal-midden-oosten/Clash-tussen-Israel-en- Iran-in-Syrie/9981464
February 2018 12 POLISH CREATIVITY
Farming lobby plans slaughter of wild boars through the use of drones, thermal vision, and massive shooting 2 Feb 2018 Tomasz Molga, Wp, Poland The Polish farmers federation announced that drones will be massively used to spot wild boars infected by African Swine Fever, an epidemic that obliged many farmers to kill their pigs. Thermography will be used to identify where animals are hiding. Hunting clubs will be obliged to kill up to 90 per cent of boars on the territory during two months. This drastic decision has been made after the refusal of hunters to kill all the wild boars, because they will not have what to hunt in the following years. https://wiadomosci.wp.pl/rolnicze-lobby-planuje-rzez-dzikow-jakiej-nie-bylo-drony- termowizja-grad-kul-6215986873099905a
It is time to enter the 3rd dimension 20 Feb 2018 Michał Duszczyk, Rzeczpospolita, Poland As the idea of using drones for more and more different operations is spreading, big cities should think about adapting its landscapes to those inevitable changes. An increasing number of Polish cities acquire drones to fight the air pollution, but a lot of issues like technical and legal conditions remain unsolved. The Polish Development Fund is working on a new program “Żwirko and Wigura” to simplify the transition process. http://www.rp.pl/Zycie-Regionow/302189906-Juz-czas-wleciec-w-trzeci-wymiar.html
February 2018 13