ESR 63 - European perspectives on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

If Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have been a feature throughout much of the history of aviation, it is not until recently that they gained increased attention. Much of the drone-related publicity has reached the wider public due to their controversial use by some states for the targeting and killing of suspected terrorists in combat and non-combat zones alike. Yet, UAVs cannot be reduced to the sole definition of weapon-delivery systems. The rather vague term of UAV is generic, and encompasses a spectrum of distinct instruments and devices respectively covering various roles and functions. This European Security Review will attempt to clarify semantic confusions that have often been misleading debates and opinions on UAVs. It will assess their current state of play in the European Union and EU industry, as well as their potential future within a wider European strategy.