WASHINGTON - ‘Weapon of Mass Destruction’ is a term used in arms-control circles signifying something capable of damage on a large scale and subject to international treaties. Analyst Zak Kallenborn argues in a recent study for the U.S. Air Force Center for Strategic Deterrence Studies that some types of drone swarm would count as WMD. The argument might seem like the theoretical arms control equivalent of angels dancing on the head of a pin — except that the U.S. Army is working on a lethal swarm which fits Kallenborn’s description, reports David Hambling for Forbes. Continue reading original article.
The Intelligent Aerospace take:
June 4, 2020 -Zachary Kallenborn is a senior consultant at ABS Group specializing in unmanned systems (swarms), WMD terrorism, and WMD warfare. Kellenborn authored a report for the U.S. Air Force Center for Strategic Deterrence Studies Air University Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama where he explores drone swarms as a weapon of mass destruction as autonomous weapons could injure, maim, or kill opposition forces as well as civilians.
"Drone swarms can also serve in traditional WMD roles. They would be highly effective as mass casualty weapons, especially against soft targets," writes Kallenborn. "They could also be strategic deterrent weapons, though the variety of defenses means nuclear weapons are likely to continue to be more reliable deterrents. Drone swarms could be effective in assassination attempts due to the ability to overwhelm defenses. However, the lack of stealth means they are likely to only appeal to actors unconcerned with (or desire) their role being known. In some circumstances, drone swarms could function as an-access, area-denial weapons."
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Jamie Whitney, Associate Editor
Intelligent Aerospace
