Consideration of the use of autonomous, non-recallable unmanned vehicles and programs as a deterrent or threat by state actors and others

Jeremy Straub

Technology in Society, 2016, vol. 44, issue C, 39-47

Abstract: This paper considers the use of a non-recallable control technology (either for craft control or to command weaponized software) as a deterrent or threat mechanism by state and non-state actors. It considers the efficacy of this approach in modern war fighting (including in limited war-like scenarios), comparing it to the mutual assured destruction phenomenon created by atomic weaponry and the Zanryū Nipponhei (‘Japanese holdout’) scenario. The deterrent, immediate and long-term impacts of the non-recallable control technology are considered from a warfighting perspective. The ethical and societal implications of the development of this technology and the proverbial opening of Pandora's Box that its development represents are also considered.

Keywords: Autonomous control; Non-conventional warfare; Deterrence; State & non-state actors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:teinso:v:44:y:2016:i:c:p:39-47

DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2015.12.003

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