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1 1 (November 7, 2023)

handle is hein.crs/govenjq0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service ~ Informning the legislative debate since 1914 Updated November 7, 2023 Armed Drones: Evolution as a Counterterrorism Tool Armed drones (also commonly called Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, or UAVs) are unmanned aircraft designed to identify, surveil, and engage ground-based targets-ranging from materiel to individuals-with kinetic weapons. The United States has significantly increased its use of armed drones to attack global counterterrorism targets since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 (9/11) continuing to today to support U.S. and partnering country counterterrorism missions. Prior to 9/11, the United States deployed unarmed drones at various places around the world primarily to support surveillance activities. Congress plays a continuing role in approving, funding, and overseeing the use of UAVs. Evolution of Armed Drone Usage With the Curtiss NSC-2, the U.S. military first started using remote-controlled aircraft in the 1930s-initially for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, and later for deploying torpedoes and land-attack bombs. The United States first employed drones in a combat role in the course of the Vietnam War, including the AQM-34 Firebee. The Firebee initially flew in the 1950s as an aerial gunnery target drone, and then in the 1960s as an intelligence-collection drone, and ultimately was modified to deliver payloads in 2002. In September 2000, the United States used an ISR drone over Afghanistan to find Osama Bin Laden as he was being sought for his role in the 1998 terrorist attacks against the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. After the drone proved successful in ISR operations-and in response to a need for additional lethal tools after the attacks of 9/11-the U.S. military increasingly outfitted drones with lethal payloads and deployed them to a variety of geographic locations where suspected terrorists resided. While the specific number of global armed drones being used for counterterrorism missions is not publicly available, reporting suggests that the U.S. use of armed drones has increased in the 20 years since they were first employed. For example, from 2010 through 2020, the United States undertook over 14,000 drone strikes in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen. Some security observers have suggested that, as the United States has withdrawn troops from many overseas locations and transitioned away from manned counterterrorism missions, it is likely the use of armed drones will increase. Types of Targets: Surveillance or Kinetic Strikes Drones perform a variety of national security missions for the United States. Specific to how armed drones support counterterrorism missions, the following are commonly performed functions: Identifying High-Value Targets: conducting ISR to identify terrorist leaders or those possessing special skills deemed to be a significant threat to the United States. Operators can use both armed and unarmed drones for such a mission. Executing Signature Strikes: lethally targeting unidentified individuals based on behaviors, patterns, and locations often associated with terrorist organizations. Targeting Equipment/Facilities: destroying buildings or training areas used to house or support terrorist activity. Figure 1. Armed Predator Drone Source: U.S. Department of Defense Photos. Possible Advantages of Using Armed Drones Some national security professionals suggest there are many positive aspects to the use of armed drones instead of traditional manned aircraft, including the following: Safety: unmanned drones reduce the risk that a pilot could be killed, injured, or captured should the platform be damaged or destroyed. Precision: the ability of unmanned drones to get closer to ground-based targets than traditional aircraft could enables greater precision in targeting, thereby reducing the risk of unintentional death and injury to noncombatants and destruction of civilian property. Loitering: drones are able to linger and surveil targets for longer than manned aircraft. Expense: the costs associated with acquiring, maintaining, and operating unmanned drones are less than that of manned aircrafts. In addition, the costs and accompanying employment benefits associated with https://crsreports.congress.gov

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