International law and the military use of unmanned maritime systems

Schmitt, M. N. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7373-9557 and Goddard, D. S. (2017) International law and the military use of unmanned maritime systems. International Review of the Red Cross, 98 (902). pp. 567-592. ISSN 1607-5889 doi: 10.1017/S1816383117000339

Abstract/Summary

Unmanned maritime systems (UMSs) comprise an important subcategory of unmanned military devices. While much of the normative debate concerning the use of unmanned aerial and land-based devices applies equally to those employed on or under water, UMS present unique challenges in understanding the application of existing law. This article summarizes the technological state of the art before considering, in turn, the legal status of UMSs, particularly under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the regulation of their use under the law of naval warfare. It is not yet clear if UMSs enjoy status as ships under UNCLOS; even if they do, it is unlikely that they can be classified as warships. Nevertheless, their lawful use is not necessarily precluded in either peacetime or armed conflict.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/89740
Identification Number/DOI	10.1017/S1816383117000339
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	No Reading authors. Back catalogue items Arts, Humanities and Social Science > School of Law
Publisher	Cambridge University Press (CUP) for International Committee of the Red Cross
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