The Era of Drones (VIII)
FRANKFURT AM MAIN (Own report) - The "Airtec" arms fair, scheduled to begin next week in Frankfurt am Main, has provoked heavy protests. Opponents are particularly criticizing the organizers' intention to present combat drones, so-called Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), in the "Innovative Theme Parks." The program of the fair includes talks by leading representatives of German arms manufacturers. High-ranking representatives of the Bundeswehr will have the opportunity to present their requirements for future UAVs. The discussion will also focus on how combat drones can be made to "autonomously" perform combat operations. "Airtec" will also focus on how to "integrate" combat UAVs into the civilian airspace and how to increase their "public acceptance." Information on the necessary public relations methods will be provided by a well known "peace researcher."
Protests
The "Pax Christi" Catholic peace organization is calling for demonstrations against the "Airtec" aerospace fair, to be held in Frankfurt am Main October 28 to 30. Pax Christi, in cooperation with other anti-militarist organizations, such as the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) and the German Peace Society (DFG/VK), is particularly criticizing the organizers' intention to put combat drones on display in the "UAV World," as part of the "Innovative Theme Parks." "We are opposing the fact that ... the image of a cosmopolitan, charming metropolis will be associated with the presentation of weapons that are repeatedly causing endless suffering to innocent people."[1]
Forward-Looking Market - Combat Drones
The "Airtec" organizers are providing the UAV producers an "international meeting point" with the possibilities for demonstrating both civilian and military use of their products. The "Airtec" offers an "excellent business and technology platform" for establishing "contacts" and "partnerships" with researchers and government representatives.[2] "Airtec" will be inaugurated by Brigitte Zypries, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy and Federal Coordinator of German Aerospace Policy. In her welcome address, which has been published in advance, the SPD politician declares that "Airtec" is focused on the branch's "forward-looking markets" such as commercial space flights and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (for both military and civilian purposes)."[3]
Keynote Address
Fittingly, Maj. Gen. Ansgar Rieks will hold the opening day's keynote address with "drones" as his theme. Rieks is Director of the recently created Aviation Authority of the German Bundeswehr. According to the Aviation Authority's self-portrait, its responsibilities include the "regulation of military air traffic in Germany," the "inspection and admission" for German military aircraft, as well as the "approval of national and international aeronautical companies and organizations" along with the "licensing of personnel."[4] It was the political and budgetary debates widely reported on in German media over the procurement of the "Euro Hawk" espionage drone that led to the creation of the Aviation Authority. Developed by the Northrop Grumman and EADS/Airbus, at costs of more than 600 million Euros, the "Euro Hawk" was disqualified for use in German airspace because of its defective anti-collision system.
Autonomous Operations
Alongside issues of integrating UAVs into the civilian airspace, "Airtec" will also draw attention to the fully autonomous drones, currently being developed by arms industries and research institutes of universities. A representative of the German-EU arms manufacturer, Airbus Defence and Space, will hold a talk on the "tactical decision-making" of "flying robots" in "autonomous missions." According to an announcement, thanks to "artificial intelligence," it is now possible for drones, totally independently from human initiative, to recognize "suddenly emerging" targets and threats.[5] Thereafter, Axel Schulte, Professor for Aviation Engineering and Piloting at the Institute for Aviation Systems at the Bundeswehr University in Munich, will speak on the possible "points of interconnection" between humans and their remotely controlled UAVs. The objective is to attain a higher degree of "autonomy," without the pilot being completely deprived of his "control function," according to the researcher.[6]
Mission Scenarios
Like their "Airtec" hosts, the arms industries evidently also appear to feel an obligation to the precept of a "civilian military cooperation." The talk, announced in the fair's program, to be held by the manager of the US weapons manufacturer, General Atomics, could be seen as exemplary. The former US Navy Admiral, Christopher Ames, who is currently the director of the "International Strategic Development" department of his company, will speak on the "Predator" UAV's "Military and Civilian Missions" in respect to its counterpart, the "Reaper." These combat drones are capable of shooting down surface-to-air missiles and are particularly being used by the USA for illegal summary executions of alleged suspected terrorists. However, according to Ames, there are also other conceivable mission scenarios, for example, "border reconnaissance missions," including maritime and coastal patrols.[7]
Nuanced View
According to the fair's program, the participants of the "Airtec," do not want to solely discuss the technical innovations in the area of drone technology and the resulting demands these awaken for the German Air Force, therefore, other themes on measures for enhancing the UAV's "public acceptance" are also on the program. Suggestions in this direction are apparently anticipated from one of Frankfurt's "peace researchers," Niklas Schörnig. The researcher at the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF) has been in long-term cooperation with the Bundeswehr, recently explicitly praising the high degree of "precision" of weaponized UAVs. (german-foreign-policy.com reported.[8]) According to the "Airtec's" program, Schörnig will make a plea for a "nuanced" view of the population's opposition to drone missions. Whereas operations with "deadly autonomous weapons systems" are those stirring up the most opposition, one often finds a positive resonance, in cases of "reconnaissance UAV missions" and "aerial support missions," according to the researcher. In spite of his alleged "critical assessment" of the situation, however, Schörnig does not put into question, the fact that the prerequisite for drone warfare is the "reconnaissance" of potential targets.[9]
Other reports and background information on "combat drones" can be found here: Hunter Killer Missions and The Club of Drone-Using Countries.
[1] Pax Christi-Diözesanverband Limburg: Keine Rüstungsmesse in Frankfurt! www.pax-christi.de.
[2] UAV World 2012 (Ausstellungsflyer). www.airtec.aero.
[3] Brigitte Zypries, MdB, Parlamentarische Staatssekretärin beim Bundesminister für Wirtschaft und Energie: Grußwort zur Airtec 2014. www.airtec.aero.
[4] Das neue Luftfahrtamt der Bundeswehr wird in Köln stationiert. www.bmvg.de 10.02.2014.
[5] Jens Halbig (Airbus Defence and Space): Tactical Decision Making in UAS Mission Execution: A First Step towards Autonomous Operations of Flying Robots. express2.converia.de.
[6] Axel Schulte (Universität der Bundeswehr München): UAV Human Factors Research at the Institute of Flight Systems. express2.converia.de.
[7] Christopher C. Ames (General Atomics Aeronautical Systems): Predator Aircraft Series Status Report: Military and Civilian Missions. express2.converia.de.
[8] See Die Ära der Drohnen (VI), Krieg im 21. Jahrhundert, Breath-Taking Progress and Die Gesetze des Krieges.
[9] Niklas Schörnig (Hessische Stiftung Friedens- und Konfliktforschung): Public and Legal Perspectives on UAS Operations - A Critical Assessment. express2.converia.de.