Drones | Pros, Cons, Debate, Arguments, Controversy, Warfare, Military, Bombs, Missiles, & War on Terror

<!doctype html> <html lang="en" class="topic-desktop ui-ie7 ui-ie"> <head prefix="og: https://ogp.me/ns# fb: https://ogp.me/ns/fb#"> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" /> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130"> <link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js" /> <link rel="icon" href="/favicon.png" /> <meta name="description" content="Should the U.S. military continue to conduct drone strikes? Learn the pros and cons of the debate." /> <meta name="keywords" content="Drones, encyclopedia, encyclopeadia, britannica, article" /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.britannica.com/procon/drones-debate" /> <title>Drones | Pros, Cons, Debate, Arguments, Controversy, Warfare, Military, Bombs, Missiles, & War on Terror | Britannica</title> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel"> window.$UI = {}; window.Constants = {"LICENSE_URL": "/bps/license","DEFAULT_TEST_VERSION": "A","DEFAULT_STATE": "XX","QUIZ_URL": "/quiz","SPOTLIGHT_BROWSE_URL": "/stories/spotlight","CONTENT_TYPE_TEXT": "text/plain;charset=UTF-8","TOPIC_FACTS_DATA_URL": "/facts","QUIZ_BROWSE_IMAGE_QUIZZES": "images","TOPIC_MEDIA_PATH": "/images-videos","USER_PROFILE_URL": "/user","DEBUG_URL": "/debug","ONE_GOOD_FACT_URL": "/one-good-fact","ERROR_404_URL": "/error404","PROCON_CITED_IN_THE_NEWS_URL": "/procon/ProCon-in-the-News","PROCON_URL": "/procon","TOPIC_PAGE_CONTENT_AJAX_URL": "/topic-content/page","INFINITE_SCROLL_PREFIX_URL": "/scroll","TOPIC_TOP_QUESTION_BROWSE_URL": "/questions","CC_USD": "USD","domain": "britannica.com","SURVEY_URL": "/survey","CATEGORY_BROWSE_URL": "/browse","STORY_BROWSE_URL": "/stories","COUNTRY_US": "US","OPEN_MEDIA_OVERLAY_PARAMETER": "/media","NEWSLETTER_SUBSCRIPTION_URL": "/newsletter-subscription","MAINTENANCE_ERROR_URL": "https://maintenance.eb.com","IMARS_EDITOR_ID": "12365882","PROFILE_EB_EDITOR_URL": "/editor","WEB_INF_RESOURCES_PATH": "WEB-INF/resources","AI_ABOUT_PAGE_URL": "/about-britannica-ai","TOPIC_ADDITIONAL_INFO_PATH": "/additional-info","SUDOKU_GAME_URL": "/games/sudoku","CC_INR": "INR","ARTICLE_PRINT_URL": "/print/article","FIRST_EDITION_URL": "/subscriber/firstedition","WW1_PORTAL_URL": "/discover/World-War-I","MENDEL_COOKIE": "__mendel","DEMYSTIFIED_BROWSE_URL": "/stories/demystified","LIST_BROWSE_URL": "/list/browse","PROFILE_EXPERT_URL": "/contributor","ASSEMBLY_IMAGE_URL": "/image/assembly","DAY_IN_HISTORY_URL": "/on-this-day","DEFAULT_CURRENCY": "USD","CONTENT_TYPE_XML": "text/xml;charset=UTF-8","PORTAL_FINANCE_BROWSE_URL_PREFIX": "/money/browse","MONEY_IMARS_CATEGORY": "13000","AJAX_PREFIX_URL": "/ajax","TOPIC_BROWSE_URL": "/topic-browse","MARKETING_CONTENT": "/marketing-content","ENV_RUNTIME": "runtime","GALLERY_URL": "/gallery","topicUrlClassesList": "topic|animal|art|biography|event|place|plant|science|sports|technology|procon","CONTENT_TYPE_HTML": "text/html;charset=UTF-8","ENV_LOCAL": "override","MEDIA_OVERLAY_URL": "/media-overlay","CHATBOT_PAGE_URL": "/chatbot","NEWSLETTER_PAGE_URL": "/newsletters","ENV_DEV": "development","MEDIA_URL": "/media","TOPIC_TOP_QUESTION_URL": "/question","PORTAL_FINANCE_URL_PREFIX": "/money","PODCASTS_URL": "/podcasts","STAND_ALONE_VIDEO_URL": "/video","MORE_ON_THIS_DAY_URL": "/more-on-this-day","TOPIC_QUOTES_URL": "/quotes","SEARCH_PAGE_URL": "/search","PROCON_CLASS": "PROCON","KUSTOM_MENDEL_APPLICATION_ID": "1","TOPIC_CONTENT_AJAX_URL": "/topic-content/topic","ENV_BRANCH": "branch","ERROR_URL": "/error","MAIN_VERSION": "mainVersion","DEFAULT_S3_REGION": "US_EAST_1","TOPIC_COLLECTION_URL": "/summary","LOGINBOX_URL": "/auth/loginbox","ONE_GOOD_FACT_BROWSE_URL": "/one-good-fact/all-good-facts","QUIZ_BROWSE_URL": "/quiz/browse","BIO_BROWSE_URL": "/browse/biographies","LIST_URL": "/list","TIGHTROPE_QUIZ_URL": "/quiz/tightrope","ALPHA_BROWSE_URL": "/sitemap","CONTENT_TYPE_JSON": "application/json","DICTIONARY_URL": "/dictionary","COBRAND_IMAGE_URL": "/image/cobrand","PROCON_IN_THE_NEWS_URL": "/procon/pro-and-con-issues-in-the-news","PROCON_BROWSE_URL": "/procon","QUIZ_BROWSE_VOCAB_QUIZZES": "vocabulary-quizzes","SUBMISSION_URL": "/submission","EB_LOG_OUT": "/auth2/logout","ENV_PRODUCTION": "production","EXPLORE_PORTAL_URL": "/explore","TOPIC_AJAX_URL": "/ajax/topic","TOPIC_SUMMARY_BROWSE_URL": "/summaries","WTFACT_BROWSE_URL": "/stories/wtfact","VIDEO_CHANNEL_URL": "/videos","GALLERY_BROWSE_URL": "/gallery/browse","CACHE_URL": "/cache","PROCON_ABOUT_URL": "/procon/About-ProCon","COMPANION_BROWSE_URL": "/stories/companion","MEDIA_FOLDER": "/eb-media","SHOW_ALL_CONTRIBUTORS": "/additional-info#contributors","BRITANNICA_EDITORS_ID": "4419","ENV_CACHE_DISABLED": "mendelCache","CALCULATORS_BROWSE_URL": "/calculators","STORY_URL": "/story","DEFAULT_COUNTRY": "US","NAVBAR_URL": "/ajax/navbar","EB_LOGIN_URL": "/auth/eb-login","NEW_ARTICLES_URL": "/new-articles",}; window.CDN = "https://cdn.britannica.com"; window.CAM_LOGIN_URL = "https://cam.britannica.com"; window.CAM_SIGN_UP_URL = "https://cam.britannica.com/registration" window.Mendel = { "config" : { "domain": "britannica.com", "page": "Topic", "videoPlayerId": "UyMCoK2v", "sharedUrl": "https://www.britannica.com/procon/drones-debate", "amuselabsUrl": "https://cdn3.amuselabs.com", "resourcesPrefixUrl": "https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/[url]?v=3.130.14", "date": 20241127, "userInfo": { "type": "ANONYMOUS" ,"currency": "AUUS" ,"country": "SG" ,"state": "XX" ,"timezone": "Asia/Singapore" ,"bcomId": "-3990680600942377188" ,"hasAds": true ,"testVersion": "D" ,"adsTestVersion": "D" ,"consumerId": "" ,"instId": "" ,"consumerUserName": "" ,"instUserName": "" ,"cognito": null }, "tvs":{ "r":[25,25,25,25], "a": [25,25,25,25]}, "isLoggedInAsUser": false, "isPhone": false, "isDesktop": true, "logoutUrl": "/auth2/logout", "selfServiceUrl": "https://myaccount.britannica.com", "cdnUrl": "https://cdn.britannica.com", "chatbotApi": "https://www.britannica.com/chat-api", "fetchOffset": 800, "mendelCookieName": "__mendel", "mendelCookie": {"surveyShown":false,"visitedTopicId":2256967,"currentDate":20241127}, "autocompleteToSearchPage": false,"topicUrl": "https://www.britannica.com/procon/drones-debate" ,"freeTopicReason": "NO_REFERRER" ,"topicId": 2256967 ,"template": "PROCON" ,"type": "PROCON" ,"hasToc": true ,"chatbotApi": "https://www.britannica.com/chat-api" ,"showPreview": false ,"infiniteScrollList": [{"p":2,"t":2256967},{"p":4,"t":272329},{"p":1,"t":497716},{"p":1,"t":306742},{"p":3,"t":255632},{"p":1,"t":106490},{"p":1,"t":673833},{"p":1,"t":1247283},{"p":1,"t":1516323},{"p":1,"t":734613}] ,"sequence": 1 ,"topics": {} }, "GA": {"leg":"D","adLeg":"D","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","articleTemplateType":"PAGINATED","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":false} }; </script> <meta property="fb:app_id" content="1887621861548296"/ <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@britannica" /> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn.britannica.com/51/230351-050-22CE6838/Military-drones.jpg" /> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Should the U.S. military continue to conduct drone strikes? Learn the pros and cons of the debate."/> <meta property="og:type" content="ARTICLE"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Drones | Pros, Cons, Debate, Arguments, Controversy, Warfare, Military, Bombs, Missiles, & War on Terror | Britannica"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Should the U.S. military continue to conduct drone strikes? Learn the pros and cons of the debate."/> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Encyclopedia Britannica" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.britannica.com/procon/drones-debate"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn.britannica.com/51/230351-050-22CE6838/Military-drones.jpg" /> <meta property="og:image:type" content="image/jpeg" /> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="init opengraph"> Mendel.openGraph = {"type":"ARTICLE","title":"Drones | Pros, Cons, Debate, Arguments, Controversy, Warfare, Military, Bombs, Missiles, & War on Terror","description":"Should the U.S. military continue to conduct drone strikes? Learn the pros and cons of the debate.","imageUrl":"https://cdn.britannica.com/51/230351-050-22CE6838/Military-drones.jpg","imageType":"image/jpeg","pageUrl":"https://www.britannica.com/procon/drones-debate"}</script> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/" > <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/icon?family=Material+Icons"> <link href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/vendor-bundle.css?v=3.130.14" rel="stylesheet" /> <link href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/mendel-css.css?v=3.130.14" rel="stylesheet" /> <link href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/topic-page.css?v=3.130.14" rel="stylesheet" /> <script type="text/javascript"> if (self !== top) { top.location = self.location; } // if ('scrollRestoration' in history) { history.scrollRestoration = 'manual'; } </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/js/at.js?v=3.130.14" async ></script> <script> dataLayer = []; </script> <script type="text/javascript">(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= '//www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-5W6NC8'); </script> <meta name="last-modified" content="2024-11-12" /> <script type="application/ld+json"> {"headline":"Drones | Pros, Cons, Debate, Arguments, Controversy, Warfare, Military, Bombs, Missiles, & War on Terror","image":{"url":"https://cdn.britannica.com/51/230351-050-22CE6838/Military-drones.jpg","@type":"ImageObject"},"author":[{"name":"The Editors of ProCon","url":"https://www.britannica.com/editor/procon-editors/12941390","@type":"Person"}],"keywords":"Drones","wordcount":7129,"url":"https://www.britannica.com/procon/drones-debate","datePublished":"2000-01-01T00:00:00Z","dateModified":"2024-11-12T00:00:00Z","description":"Should the U.S. military continue to conduct drone strikes? Learn the pros and cons of the debate.","publisher":{"name":"Encyclopedia Britannica","@type":"Organization","logo":{"url":"https://corporate.britannica.com/wp-content/themes/eb-corporate/_img/logo.png","@type":"ImageObject"}},"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"article"} </script></head> <body data-leg="D" class="new-topic topic-procon first-page-true user-ANONYMOUS user-ads md-desktop leg-db-ie">  <script>Mendel.config.adProvider='ay';</script> <script async src="https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/tag/js/gpt.js"></script> <script> window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.defineSlot('/15510053/CMP_1x1', [1, 1], 'div-gpt-ad-1709766812090-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.enableServices(); }); </script> <script async defer src="https://launchpad-wrapper.privacymanager.io/0ccc6fe8-1870-4ad8-b47b-6d029ac116fc/launchpad-liveramp.js"></script> <script async src="https://JRyhoywLYXNLYMAhs.ay.delivery/manager/JRyhoywLYXNLYMAhs" type="text/javascript" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" ></script><div class="ie-warning d-flex align-items-center align-self-center justify-content-center site-alert bg-orange"> <div> You are using an <strong>outdated</strong> browser. Please <a class="text-white text-underscore" href="https://browsehappy.com/">upgrade your browser</a> to improve your experience and security. </div> </div> <script id="json-navbar-info" type="application/json"> {"topSectionLinks":[{"title":"Ask the Chatbot","url":"/chatbot","navbarId":"CHATBOT"},{"title":"Games & Quizzes","url":"/quiz/browse","navbarId":"QUIZZES"},{"title":"ProCon","url":"/procon","selected":true,"navbarId":"PROCON"},{"title":"History & Society","url":"/History-Society","navbarId":"HISTORY"},{"title":"Science & Tech","url":"/Science-Tech","navbarId":"SCIENCE"},{"title":"Biographies","url":"/Biographies","navbarId":"BIOS"},{"title":"Animals & Nature","url":"/Animals-Nature","navbarId":"ANIMALS"},{"title":"Geography & Travel","url":"/Geography-Travel","navbarId":"GEOGRAPHY"},{"title":"Arts & Culture","url":"/Arts-Culture","navbarId":"ART"},{"title":"Money","url":"/money","navbarId":"MONEY"},{"title":"Videos","url":"/videos","navbarId":"VIDEOS"}],"selectedSuperCategory":{"id":7,"title":"ProCon","url":"procon","description":"Explore pros and cons lists for debated issues presented in a non-partisan format with supporting background information, statistics, and resources.","keywords":"Pros and cons, Debate topics, Opposing views, pros cons list, Controversial topics","classId":"PROCON","sortOrder":1},"selectedNavbarLink":{"title":"ProCon","url":"/procon","selected":true,"navbarId":"PROCON"}} </script> <script id="json-hamburger-menu" type="application/json"> {"britannicaMenu1":[{"title":"Home","url":"/"},{"title":"ProCon","url":"/procon"},{"title":"History & Society","url":"/History-Society"},{"title":"Science & Tech","url":"/Science-Tech"},{"title":"Biographies","url":"/Biographies"},{"title":"Animals & Nature","url":"/Animals-Nature"},{"title":"Geography & Travel","url":"/Geography-Travel"},{"title":"Arts & Culture","url":"/Arts-Culture"},{"title":"Money","url":"/money"}],"britannicaMenu2":[{"title":"Games & Quizzes","url":"/quiz/browse"},{"title":"Videos","url":"/videos"},{"title":"On This Day","url":"/on-this-day"},{"title":"One Good Fact","url":"/one-good-fact"},{"title":"Dictionary","url":"/dictionary"},{"title":"New Articles","url":"/new-articles"}],"browseByCategory":[{"title":{"id":5,"title":"History & Society","url":"/History-Society"},"links":[{"title":"Lifestyles & Social Issues","url":"/browse/Lifestyles-Social-Issues"},{"title":"Philosophy & Religion","url":"/browse/Philosophy-Religion"},{"title":"Politics, Law & Government","url":"/browse/Politics-Law-Government"},{"title":"World History","url":"/browse/World-History"}]},{"title":{"id":6,"title":"Science & Tech","url":"/Science-Tech"},"links":[{"title":"Health & Medicine","url":"/browse/Health-Medicine"},{"title":"Science","url":"/browse/Science"},{"title":"Technology","url":"/browse/Technology"}]},{"title":{"id":3,"title":"Biographies","url":"/Biographies"},"links":[{"title":"Browse Biographies","url":"/browse/biographies"}]},{"title":{"id":1,"title":"Animals & Nature","url":"/Animals-Nature"},"links":[{"title":"Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates","url":"/browse/Birds-Reptiles-Vertebrates"},{"title":"Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates","url":"/browse/Bugs-Mollusks-Invertebrates"},{"title":"Environment","url":"/browse/Environment"},{"title":"Fossils & Geologic Time","url":"/browse/Fossil-Geologic-Time"},{"title":"Mammals","url":"/browse/Mammals"},{"title":"Plants","url":"/browse/Plants"}]},{"title":{"id":4,"title":"Geography & Travel","url":"/Geography-Travel"},"links":[{"title":"Geography & Travel","url":"/browse/Geography-Travel"}]},{"title":{"id":2,"title":"Arts & Culture","url":"/Arts-Culture"},"links":[{"title":"Entertainment & Pop Culture","url":"/browse/Entertainment-Pop-Culture"},{"title":"Literature","url":"/browse/Literature"},{"title":"Sports & Recreation","url":"/browse/Sports-Recreation"},{"title":"Visual Arts","url":"/browse/Visual-Arts"}]}],"browseByFeature":[{"title":"Companions","url":"/stories/companion"},{"title":"Demystified","url":"/stories/demystified"},{"title":"Image Galleries","url":"/gallery/browse"},{"title":"Lists","url":"/list/browse"},{"title":"Podcasts","url":"/podcasts"},{"title":"Spotlight","url":"/stories/spotlight"},{"title":"Summaries","url":"/summary"},{"title":"The Forum","url":"/stories/the-forum"},{"title":"Top Questions","url":"/question"},{"title":"#WTFact","url":"/stories/wtfact"}],"moreFromBritannica":[{"title":"Britannica Kids","url":"https://kids.britannica.com/","newTab":true}],"menuType":"DEFAULT"} </script> <header id="header" class="bg-navy-dark"> <div class="global-nav-top-bar"> <div class="grid gx-0 h-100 justify-content-between align-items-center container-lg mx-auto p-0 position-relative"> <div class="d-flex align-items-center"> <button class="d-flex align-items-center justify-self-start js-toggle js-toggle-hamburger btn btn-link link-white btn-sm rounded-0 p-10"> <div class="hamburger-tooltip"> <em class="material-icons d-inline-block font-24" id="nav-toggle" data-icon="menu"></em> </div> <em class="material-icons d-inline-block font-24 global-nav-search-icon" id="nav-search-icon" data-icon="search" ></em> </button> <a href="/" class="d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center ml-10"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/eb-logo/MendelNewThistleLogo.png" alt="Encyclopedia Britannica" class="global-nav-logo global-nav-logo-left" /> </a> <div class="global-nav-top-search-bar global-nav-top-search-container global-nav-search-container" id="global-nav-top-search-bar"> <form method="get" action="/search" id="global-nav-search" class="md-search-form m-0 global-nav-search-bar-small"> <div class="search-box position-relative col-100"> <label class="sr-only" for="global-nav-search-query">Search Britannica</label> <input name="query" id="global-nav-search-query" placeholder="Search Britannica..." class="form-control form-control-lg rounded-lg font-16 search-query pl-20 pr-70 shadow-sm" maxlength="200" autocomplete="off" aria-label="Search Britannica" /> <button class="search-reset-btn btn btn-link px-10 position-absolute top-0 h-100 d-none" type="reset"> <em class="material-icons" data-icon="close"></em> </button> <button class="search-submit btn btn-link text-blue px-10 position-absolute top-0 right-0 h-100" type="submit" disabled> <span class="sr-only">Click here to search</span> <em class="material-icons search-icon" data-icon="search"></em> </button> </div> </form> </div> </div> <a href="/" class="d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/eb-logo/MendelNewThistleLogo.png" alt="Encyclopedia Britannica" class="global-nav-center global-nav-logo non-homepage-logo" /> </a> <form method="get" action="/search" id="global-nav-search" class="md-search-form m-0 global-nav-search-bar-small global-nav-center search global-nav-center-search-container"> <div class="search-box position-relative col-100"> <label class="sr-only" for="global-nav-search-query">Search Britannica</label> <input name="query" id="global-nav-search-query" placeholder="Search Britannica..." class="form-control form-control-lg rounded-lg font-16 search-query pl-20 pr-70 shadow-sm" maxlength="200" autocomplete="off" aria-label="Search Britannica" /> <button class="search-reset-btn btn btn-link px-10 position-absolute top-0 h-100 d-none" type="reset"> <em class="material-icons" data-icon="close"></em> </button> <button class="search-submit btn btn-link text-blue px-10 position-absolute top-0 right-0 h-100" type="submit" disabled> <span class="sr-only">Click here to search</span> <em class="material-icons search-icon" data-icon="search"></em> </button> </div> </form> <div class="col-35 col-sm-auto text-right order-3 mr-lg-15 align-items-center d-flex justify-content-end"> <div class="d-none d-md-inline-block"> <SPAN class="marketing-HEADER_SUBSCRIPTION_DESKTOP2 marketing-content" data-marketing-id="HEADER_SUBSCRIPTION_DESKTOP2"><a href="https://subscription.britannica.com/subscribe?partnerCode=BP_Black_Friday_AUUS" class="subscribe-link btn btn-sm btn-outline-white-orange py-5 mr-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Subscribe </a></SPAN></div> <div class="d-inline-block d-md-none mr-5 mr-sm-10"> <SPAN class="marketing-HEADER_SUBSCRIPTION_MOBILE marketing-content" data-marketing-id="HEADER_SUBSCRIPTION_MOBILE"><a href="https://subscription.britannica.com/subscribe?partnerCode=BP_Black_Friday_AUUS" class="subscribe-link btn btn-xs btn-orange-dark p-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Subscribe </a></SPAN></div> <button class="js-toggle-user-dropdown js-toggle btn btn-sm btn-link link-white rounded-0 px-md-15 pl-5 pr-5"> <span class="d-none d-md-inline-block mr-5">Login</span> <em class="material-icons d-inline-block d-md-none font-16 font-sm-20" data-icon="account_circle"></em> <div class="d-none dropdown-menu-subscription-link">https://subscription.britannica.com/subscribe?partnerCode=BP_Black_Friday_AUUS</div> <em class="material-icons inactive-icon d-inline-block font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_down"></em> <em class="material-icons active-icon d-inline-block font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_up"></em> </button> </div> </div> </div> <div class="d-none hamburger-menu-subscription-link"><DIV class="marketing-HAMBURGER_MENU_CTA marketing-content" data-marketing-id="HAMBURGER_MENU_CTA"><a href="https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=hamburger-menu&utm_campaign=black-friday-2024" class="subscribe-link btn btn-sm btn-orange py-5" target="_blank"> Subscribe <span class="d-none d-md-inline"> Now</span> </a></DIV></div> <div id="global-nav-react"> <div class="d-none"> <ul> <li><a href="/">Home</a></li> <li><a href="/procon">ProCon</a></li> <li><a href="/History-Society">History & Society</a></li> <li><a href="/Science-Tech">Science & Tech</a></li> <li><a href="/Biographies">Biographies</a></li> <li><a href="/Animals-Nature">Animals & Nature</a></li> <li><a href="/Geography-Travel">Geography & Travel</a></li> <li><a href="/Arts-Culture">Arts & Culture</a></li> <li><a href="/money">Money</a></li> </ul> <ul> <li><a href="/quiz/browse">Games & Quizzes</a></li> <li><a href="/videos">Videos</a></li> <li><a href="/on-this-day">On This Day</a></li> <li><a href="/one-good-fact">One Good Fact</a></li> <li><a href="/dictionary">Dictionary</a></li> <li><a href="/new-articles">New Articles</a></li> </ul> <a href="/History-Society">History & Society</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/Lifestyles-Social-Issues">Lifestyles & Social Issues</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Philosophy-Religion">Philosophy & Religion</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Politics-Law-Government">Politics, Law & Government</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/World-History">World History</a></li> </ul> <a href="/Science-Tech">Science & Tech</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/Health-Medicine">Health & Medicine</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Science">Science</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Technology">Technology</a></li> </ul> <a href="/Biographies">Biographies</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/biographies">Browse Biographies</a></li> </ul> <a href="/Animals-Nature">Animals & Nature</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/Birds-Reptiles-Vertebrates">Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Bugs-Mollusks-Invertebrates">Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Environment">Environment</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Fossil-Geologic-Time">Fossils & Geologic Time</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Mammals">Mammals</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Plants">Plants</a></li> </ul> <a href="/Geography-Travel">Geography & Travel</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/Geography-Travel">Geography & Travel</a></li> </ul> <a href="/Arts-Culture">Arts & Culture</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/Entertainment-Pop-Culture">Entertainment & Pop Culture</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Literature">Literature</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Sports-Recreation">Sports & Recreation</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Visual-Arts">Visual Arts</a></li> </ul> <ul> <li><a href="/stories/companion">Companions</a></li> <li><a href="/stories/demystified">Demystified</a></li> <li><a href="/gallery/browse">Image Galleries</a></li> <li><a href="/list/browse">Lists</a></li> <li><a href="/podcasts">Podcasts</a></li> <li><a href="/stories/spotlight">Spotlight</a></li> <li><a href="/summary">Summaries</a></li> <li><a href="/stories/the-forum">The Forum</a></li> <li><a href="/question">Top Questions</a></li> <li><a href="/stories/wtfact">#WTFact</a></li> </ul> <ul> <li><a href="https://kids.britannica.com/">Britannica Kids</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </header> <div class="bg-navy-dark"> <div class="container-lg p-0 d-flex justify-content-center global-nav-categories-bar overflow-hidden"> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 global-nav-slider category-snap-slider"> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex font-14 overflow-hidden text-nowrap mx-5"> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-CHATBOT " href="/chatbot">Ask the Chatbot</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-QUIZZES " href="/quiz/browse">Games & Quizzes</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-PROCON selected selected" href="/procon">ProCon</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-HISTORY " href="/History-Society">History & Society</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-SCIENCE " href="/Science-Tech">Science & Tech</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-BIOS " href="/Biographies">Biographies</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-ANIMALS " href="/Animals-Nature">Animals & Nature</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-GEOGRAPHY " href="/Geography-Travel">Geography & Travel</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-ART " href="/Arts-Culture">Arts & Culture</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-MONEY " href="/money">Money</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-VIDEOS " href="/videos">Videos</a> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> </div> <main> <div class="md-page-wrapper"> <div id="content" class="md-content"> <div class="md-article-container template-procon infinite-pagination"> <div class="infinite-scroll-container article last"> <article class="article-content container-lg qa-content px-0 pt-0 pb-40 py-lg-20 content md-expanded" data-topic-id="2256967"> <div class="grid gx-0"> <div class="col-auto"> <div class="topic-left-rail md-article-drawer position-relative d-flex border-right-sm border-left-sm open"> <div class="drawer d-flex flex-column open"> <div class="left-rail-section-content"> <div class="topic-left-rail-header text-truncate bg-gray-50 position-relative text-right d-flex align-items-center"> <div class="tlr-title px-20 py-15 text-left"> <em class="material-icons text-gray-400 d-lg-none" data-icon="toc"></em> <a class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/procon/drones-debate">Drones</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0" > <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <ul class="list-unstyled my-0" data-level="h1"><li data-target="#ref1"><div class="pl-25"><a class="link-gray-900 w-100" href="/procon/drones-debate">Introduction</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref396727"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/procon/drones-debate#ref396727">Earliest Drones</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref396728"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/procon/drones-debate#ref396728">What Is a Drone?</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref396729"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/procon/drones-debate#ref396729">Cost of Drones</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref396730"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/procon/drones-debate#ref396730">George W. Bush Administration and the “War on Terror”</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref396731"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/procon/drones-debate#ref396731">Number of Strikes and Casualties</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref396732"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/procon/drones-debate#ref396732">Public Outcry</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref396733"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/procon/drones-debate#ref396733">Donald Trump Administration</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref396734"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/procon/drones-debate#ref396734">Joe Biden Administration</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref396735"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/procon/drones-debate#ref396735">Pros</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref396736"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/procon/drones-debate#ref396736">Pro 1: Drone strikes make the United States safer.</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref396737"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/procon/drones-debate#ref396737">Pro 2: Drone strikes keep other countries safer.</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref396738"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/procon/drones-debate#ref396738">Pro 3: Drones limit the scope, scale, and casualties of military action.</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref396739"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes">Pro Quotes</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref396740"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#ref396740">Cons</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref396741"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#ref396741">Con 1: Drone strikes create more terrorists while terrorizing civilians.</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref396742"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#ref396742">Con 2: Drone strikes violate human rights and nations’ sovereignty.</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref396743"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#ref396743">Con 3: Drone strikes inflict psychological damage on drone pilots.</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref396744"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#ref396744">Con Quotes</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref396745"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#ref396745">Take Action</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref396746"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#ref396746">Sources</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li></ul> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/procon/drones-debate/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/drones-debate">Related Topics</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://www.britannica.com/procon/drones-debate/images-videos">Images</a> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 "> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex overflow-hidden text-nowrap ml-15"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/51/230351-050-22CE6838/Military-drones.jpg" data-href="/media/1/2256967/320155" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/51/230351-004-D65147EE/Military-drones.jpg" alt="military drone" height="50" /> </a> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> <div class="mb-30 tlr-read-next"> <div class="text-gray-900 p-5 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-10 mb-10"> Read Next </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/story/pro-and-con-international-drone-strikes"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/51/230351-131-9517A6D4/Military-drones.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="Military drones" width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/story/pro-and-con-international-drone-strikes" >Pro and Con: International Drone Strikes</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="mb-30 tlr-discover"> <div class="text-gray-900 p-5 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-10 mb-10"> Discover </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/list/8-philosophical-puzzles-and-paradoxes"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/05/176305-131-2D85B5C6/Casino-Gambling-Slots-Neon-Slot-machine-Luck.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="Casino. Gambling. Slots. Slot machine. Luck. Rich. Neon. Hit the Jackpot neon sign lights up casino window." width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/list/8-philosophical-puzzles-and-paradoxes" >Brain Games: 8 Philosophical Puzzles and Paradoxes</a> </div> </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/story/do-the-relics-of-saint-nicholas-really-emit-a-holy-substance"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/43/219343-131-10977916/Tomb-Saint-Nicholas-Basilica-di-San-Nicola-Italy.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="The tomb of Saint Nicholas in the crypt of the Basilica di San Nicola, Bari, Apulia, Italy" width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/story/do-the-relics-of-saint-nicholas-really-emit-a-holy-substance" >Do the Relics of Saint Nicholas Really Emit a Holy Substance?</a> </div> </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/list/10-famous-artworks-by-leonardo-da-vinci"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/06/200006-131-ABB681CF/Leonardo-da-Vinci-Italian-Renaissance-Florence-Engraving-1500.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), Italian Renaissance painter from Florence. Engraving by Cosomo Colombini (d. 1812) after a Leonardo self portrait. Ca. 1500." width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/list/10-famous-artworks-by-leonardo-da-vinci" >10 Famous Artworks by Leonardo da Vinci</a> </div> </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/list/7-of-the-worlds-deadliest-shipwrecks"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/41/182141-131-32BD2459/Lusitania-sinking-U-boat-German-May-1915.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="Lusitania sinking, illustration from The War of the Nations (New York), December 31, 1919. World War I, WWI. This image is one of three on the page. (See source file for the other two.)" width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/list/7-of-the-worlds-deadliest-shipwrecks" >7 of the World’s Deadliest Shipwrecks</a> </div> </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/list/the-fastest-animals-on-earth"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/00/152300-131-FEE1926E/Cheetah-Maasai-Mara-National-Reserve-Kenya.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) standing on rock, side view, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya" width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/list/the-fastest-animals-on-earth" >The Fastest Animals on Earth</a> </div> </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/list/secret-service-code-names-of-11-us-presidents"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/45/189145-131-45FF672E/Secret-Service-Agent-Earpiece.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="Secret Service Agent Listens To Earpiece" width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/list/secret-service-code-names-of-11-us-presidents" >Secret Service Code Names of 11 U.S. Presidents</a> </div> </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/story/why-is-it-called-black-friday"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/73/218073-131-D8DF29B6/Macys-Herald-Square-New-York-Black-Friday-Thanksgiving-2018.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="New York NY/ USA- November 23, 2018 Hordes of shoppers throng the Macy's Herald Square flagship store in New York looking for bargains on the day after Thanksgiving, Black Friday." width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/story/why-is-it-called-black-friday" >Why Is It Called Black Friday?</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <button class="drawerToggle btn position-sticky border btn-xs btn-white btn-circle rounded-sm d-none d-lg-flex " type="button" aria-label="Toggle Drawer"> <em class="material-icons font-18 text-blue" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="h-100 ml-0 pr-lg-0 "> <div class="h-100 grid gx-0 gx-lg-20"> <div class="h-100 col-sm"> <div class="h-100 infinite-pagination-container d-flex flex-column position-relative"> <div class="position-absolute top-0 h-100 w-100"> <div class="toc-sticky-header d-none d-lg-none bg-gray-50 px-10 px-sm-30 position-sticky w-100 "> <div class="toc-sticky-header-inner-container align-items-center d-flex mx-auto h-100 w-100"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-sm btn-white text-blue border-2 border-gray-100 gtm-mobile-toc-header-button js-sections-button d-lg-none p-10"> <em class="material-icons my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Contents </button> <div class="header-ai-ask-button-placeholder"></div> <div class="header-ai-summarize-button-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="grey-box w-100 grey-box-top"> <div class="grey-box-content mx-auto w-100"> <script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement" : [ { "@type" : "ListItem", "position" : 1, "item" : { "@id" : "/procon", "name": "ProCon" } } ] } </script> <nav class="mt-10"> <a class="procon-label font-weight-semi-bold font-14 super-category-badge rounded" href="/procon">ProCon</a> </nav> <div class="page2ref-true topic-content topic-type-REGULAR" data-student-article="false"> <script class="page-description-json" type="application/json"> { "url": "/procon/drones-debate", "shareUrl": "https://www.britannica.com/procon/drones-debate", "browserTitle": "Drones | Pros, Cons, Debate, Arguments, Controversy, Warfare, Military, Bombs, Missiles, & War on Terror", "firstTopicPage": true, "topicId":2256967 } </script> <div class="reading-channel"> <div class="desktop-header-image module-spacing"> <figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-20 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="13684" data-asm-type="image"> <div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"> <a style="min-height: 160px;" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/51/230351-050-22CE6838/Military-drones.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/2256967/320155"> <picture> <source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/51/230351-050-22CE6838/Military-drones.jpg?w=300"> <img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/51/230351-050-22CE6838/Military-drones.jpg?w=400&h=300&c=crop" alt="military drone" loading="eager" /> </picture> <button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"> <em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em> </button> </a> </div> <figcaption class="card-body"> <div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"> <span> <a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/51/230351-050-22CE6838/Military-drones.jpg" data-href="/media/1/2256967/320155">military drone</a> <span><span>A military drone flies over rough terrain.</span></span> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <span class="link-blue">(more)</span> </button> </span> </div> </figcaption> </figure> </div><div class="topic-header"> <div class="d-flex align-items-top justify-content-between"> <div class="d-flex flex-column"> <div> <div> <h1>Drones</h1></div> </div> <div class="topic-identifier font-16 font-md-20">Should the U.S. Military Continue to Conduct Drone Strikes?</div> </div> </div> <div class="d-none d-sm-flex flex-row"> <div class="mr-10 mb-15"> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="d-none d-sm-block md-topic-tools qa-action-buttons mb-15" data-topic-id="2256967"> <button class="js-tooltip btn btn-sm btn-outline-blue border pr-10 border-2" > <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="more_vert"></em> More Actions </button> <div class="md-more-popover popover popover-sm p-0 font-14 z-1"> <div> <button class="js-print-modal-button js-modal gtm-topic-tool btn btn-sm btn-link gtm-topic-tool font-weight-bold btn-link" data-modal="[data-topic-id=2256967] .md-print-modal" > <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="print"></em> Print </button> <div class="md-print-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif d-flex align-items-center pb-15 border-bottom"> <em class="material-icons text-blue mr-10">print</em> Print </div> <div class="mt-20 mb-10"> Please select which sections you would like to print: </div> <form action="/print/article/2256967" method="post" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <div class="print-box-items"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><label><input class="mr-10" type="checkbox" name="sequence[]" value="0">Table Of Contents</label></li> </ul> </div> <input type="submit" class="btn btn-blue md-disabled" value="Print" /> </form> </div> </div> </div> <div> <button class="js-modal qa-cite-modal-button btn btn-sm btn-link gtm-topic-tool font-weight-bold btn-link" data-modal="[data-topic-id=2256967] .md-cite-modal"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="verified"></em> Cite </button> <div class="md-cite-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif d-flex align-items-center pb-15 border-bottom mb-15"> <em class="material-icons text-blue mr-10">verified</em>Cite </div> <div class="font-serif"> While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. </div> <div class="label mt-20 mb-10">Select Citation Style</div> <select class="js-citation-format-select form-select"> <option selected value="mla">MLA</option> <option value="apa">APA</option> <option value="chicago">Chicago Manual of Style</option> </select> <div class="citation font-serif border rounded p-15 mt-20" data-authors="The Editors of ProCon" data-title="Drones" data-published-date="12 Nov. 2024" data-url="https://www.britannica.com/procon/drones-debate" > <div class="citation-text"></div> </div> <button class="js-copy-citation-button mt-20 btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10" > <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="file_copy"></em> <span class="js-citation-status-text">Copy Citation</span> </button> </div> </div> </div> <div> <button class="js-share-modal-button js-modal btn btn-sm btn-link gtm-topic-tool font-weight-bold btn-link" data-modal="[data-topic-id=2256967] .md-share-modal"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="share"></em> Share </button> <div class="md-share-modal size-lg d-none qa-share-modal"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif d-flex align-items-center pb-15 border-bottom"> <em class="material-icons text-blue mr-10" data-icon="share"></em> Share </div> <div class="label my-20">Share to social media</div> <div class="md-social-toolbar-circle d-flex align-items-start inverted" data-value="share" title="Drones" data-url="https://www.britannica.com/procon/drones-debate" > <a class="social-icon facebook justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/BRITANNICA/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>Facebook</span></a> <a class="social-icon x justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="x" href="https://x.com/britannica" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>X</span></a> </div> <div class="label pt-20 mt-20 mb-5 border-top">URL</div> <a class="font-serif text-truncate d-inline-block" href="https://www.britannica.com/procon/drones-debate">https://www.britannica.com/procon/drones-debate</a> </div> </div> </div> <div> <button class="js-feedback-modal-button js-modal btn btn-sm btn-link gtm-topic-tool font-weight-bold btn-link" data-modal=".md-feedback-modal"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="message"></em> Feedback </button> </div> </div> <div class="md-feedback-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif pb-15 border-bottom"> Feedback </div> <form method="post" action="/submission/feedback/2256967"> <div class="my-20"> Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). </div> <div class="type-menu"> <label for="feedback-type" class="label mb-10">Feedback Type</label> <select id="feedback-type" class="form-select mb-30" name="feedbackTypeId" required> <option value="" selected="selected">Select a type (Required)</option> <option value="1">Factual Correction</option> <option value="2">Spelling/Grammar Correction</option> <option value="3">Link Correction</option> <option value="4">Additional Information</option> <option value="5">Other</option> </select> </div> <label for="feedback" class="label mb-10">Your Feedback</label> <textarea id="feedback" class="form-control mb-30" name="feedback" maxlength="3000" rows="7" required></textarea> <button class="btn btn-blue" type="submit">Submit Feedback</button> </form> <div class="success-messaging d-none mt-30"> <div class="title">Thank you for your feedback</div> <p>Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="md-websites-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif pb-15 border-bottom font-weight-bold"> External Websites </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="toc-header-marker"></div> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 js-header-ai-ask-button d-none btn-sm btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 mr-0 mr-lg-10 ml-5 ml-sm-10 ml-lg-0 p-10"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> <div class="md-byline module-spacing "> <div class="font-serif font-12"> <span class="written-by text-gray-700"> Written by </span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/editor/procon-editors/12941390" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of ProCon</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">ProCon's editors write and verify new content and update existing content. ProCon presents the pro and con arguments to debatable issues in a straightforward, nonpartisan, freely accessible way.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> The Editors of ProCon</span></div> <div class="font-serif font-12 text-gray-700"> <span class="qa-fact-checked-by">Fact-checked by</span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 font-12" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link font-12 "> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2024-11-12T00:00:00CST" >Nov 12, 2024</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/procon/drones-debate/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 ai-ask-button btn border-2 module-spacing btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <section><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/unmanned-aerial-vehicle" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Unmanned aerial vehicles</a> (UAVs), otherwise known as drones, are remotely controlled aircraft that may be armed with missiles and bombs for attack missions. Since the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/World-Trade-Center" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">World Trade Center</a> attacks on <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/September-11-attacks" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Sept. 11, 2001</a>, and the subsequent “<a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/war-on-terrorism" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">War on Terror</a>,” the United States has used thousands of armed <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Drones-War-and-Peace-2119125" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">drones</a> to kill suspected terrorists and militants in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Pakistan" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Pakistan</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Afghanistan" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Afghanistan</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Yemen" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Yemen</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Somalia" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Somalia</a>, and other countries.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><em>(This article first appeared on ProCon.org and was last updated on February 1, 2024.)</em></p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span></section><span class="marker h2"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref396727"> <h2 class="h1">Earliest Drones</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The first recorded unmanned air strike occurred on July 15, 1849, when the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/House-of-Habsburg" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Habsburg</a> Austrian Empire launched 200 pilotless balloons armed with bombs against the revolution-minded citizens of Venice. During the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/American-Civil-War" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">U.S. Civil War</a>, both the Union and the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Confederate-States-of-America" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Confederate</a> sides sent balloons loaded with explosives and time-sensitive triggers over their opponents, though the strategy was ineffective. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-1">[1]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-89">[89]</a></p><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The modern electronically controlled military drone traces its origins to the 1930s, when the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/United-Kingdom" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">British</a> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Royal-Navy" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Royal Navy</a> developed the Queen Bee, a radio-controlled drone used for aerial target practice by British pilots. Between Nov. 1944 and Apr. 1945, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Japan" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Japan</a> released more than 9,000 bomb-laden <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/balloon" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">balloons</a> across the Pacific, intending to cause forest fires and panic in the Western United States in operation “Fu-Go.” Most of the balloons caused minimal damage or fell in the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Pacific-Ocean" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Pacific Ocean</a>, but more than 300 made their way into the U.S. and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Canada</a>. Because the U.S. government, in concert with the American press, kept the balloons a secret, the Japanese believed the tactic to be ineffective and abandoned the project. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-87">[87]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-88">[88]</a> <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-89">[89]</a></p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span> </section><span class="marker h3"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref396728"> <h2 class="h1">What Is a Drone?</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Companies have developed dozens of drone models, ranging in size from large solar-powered fixed-wing aircraft to small <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/hummingbird" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">hummingbird</a>-mimicking <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/helicopter" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">helicopter</a>-like drones, all with a wide variety of capabilities and ranging in cost from $600 to at least $103.7 million per drone. The starting price for a weaponized drone in 2013 was about $15 million. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-91">[91]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-123">[123]</a></p><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD6 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The two most widely used weaponized drones have been the MQ-1 Predator (which the U.S. military officially retired on Mar. 9, 2018) and the upgraded MQ-9 Reaper, both developed by military contractor General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. The Predator drones were first flown in June 1994 and deployed by <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/North-Atlantic-Treaty-Organization" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">NATO</a> in 1995 in the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Balkans" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Balkans</a> during the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Bosnian-War" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Bosnian War</a> (1992–95), while the Reaper was first deployed in Oct. 2007 in Afghanistan. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-90">[90]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-91">[91]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-92">[92]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-124">[124]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-125">[125]</a></p><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD7 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The Reaper, flown remotely by pilots, can cruise for 27 hours, get close-up views from 10,000 feet (3,050 meters), and carry Hellfire <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/strategic-missile" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">missiles</a> as well as both laser- and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/GPS" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">GPS</a>-guided bombs. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-128">[128]</a></p><span class="marker MOD7 mod-inline"></span> </section><span class="marker h4"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref396729"> <h2 class="h1">Cost of Drones</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD8 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">According to an analysis by the Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard College, the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/US-Department-of-Defense" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">U.S. Department of Defense’s</a> fiscal year 2018 budget request included $6.97 billion for drone research, development, and procurement as well as system-specific construction—a five-year high and 21% more than the enacted fiscal year 2017 drone budget. The largest drone line item in the fiscal year 2018 proposed budget was the MQ-9 Reaper, at $1.23 billion. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-126">[126]</a></p><span class="marker MOD8 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD9 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The fiscal year 2019 Department of Defense drone budget request increased to $9.39 billion, including adding 3,447 new drones, according to the Center for the Study of the Drone, which ceased research in spring 2020. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-127">[127]</a></p><span class="marker MOD9 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD10 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">A single Reaper drone cost about $14 million in 2008. That figure rose to $32 million by June 10, 2020, making the Reaper more expensive than a top-end AH-64E Apache helicopter. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-128">[128]</a></p><span class="marker MOD10 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD11 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">While budgets and costs have undoubtedly increased, numbers are difficult to impossible to come by, as fewer and fewer organizations track military drones and drone spending.</p><span class="marker MOD11 mod-inline"></span> </section><span class="marker h5"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref396730"> <h2 class="h1">George W. Bush Administration and the “War on Terror”</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD12 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">On Sept. 7, 2000, the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Central-Intelligence-Agency" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">CIA</a> sent the first unarmed drone to fly over Afghanistan. In late Sep. an unarmed drone spotted <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Osama-bin-Laden" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Osama bin Laden</a> in Afghanistan, who was then wanted for his role in financing and organizing terrorist attacks against American embassies in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Tanzania" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Tanzania</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Kenya" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Kenya</a> in 1998. The drone reportedly observed bin Laden for four hours and 23 minutes at Tarnak Farms, an <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/al-Qaeda" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">al-Qaeda</a> camp. Because there was no guarantee that <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/cruise-missile" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">cruise missiles</a> could strike bin Laden, the CIA lobbied to have Hellfire missiles, which are lightweight anti-tank missiles, attached to a Predator drone. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-129">[129]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-130">[130]</a></p><span class="marker MOD12 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD13 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The newly armed drones were being tested when the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/World-Trade-Center" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">World Trade Center</a> was attacked on Sept. 11, 2001. The first drone strike in Afghanistan, piloted by U.S. Air Force operators directed by CIA analysts, happened on Oct. 7, 2001, a failed attempt to kill <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Taliban" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Taliban</a> Supreme Commander <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mohammad-Omar" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Mohammed Omar</a>. The first known killing by armed drones occurred in Nov. 2001, when a Predator killed Muhammad Atef, al-Qaeda’s military commander. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-129">[129]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-130">[130]</a></p><span class="marker MOD13 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD14 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">U.S. President <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/George-W-Bush" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">George W. Bush</a> signed a directive creating a secret list of high-value targets, allowing the CIA to kill the listed people without further presidential approval. The CIA under the Bush Administration mostly engaged in “personality” strikes, targeting known <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/terrorism" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">terrorists</a> whose identities had been firmly established through intelligence, including visual surveillance and electronic and human intelligence. In 2008 the CIA began a policy of “signature strikes” against targets outside named kill lists, targeting individuals on the basis of their “pattern of life” or their suspicious daily behavior. In Pakistan in 2009 and 2010 as many as half of the 170 strikes were classified as signature strikes. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-54">[54]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-90">[90]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-105">[105]</a></p><span class="marker MOD14 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD15 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The United States has operated drones with the tacit consent of the leaders of Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, and Afghanistan. The parliaments and governing bodies of these countries, however, often issued public statements blasting the strikes, and public sentiment has been strongly anti-drone. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-49">[49]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-79">[79]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-80">[80]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-81">[81]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-82">[82]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-83">[83]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-84">[84]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-85">[85]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-106">[106]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-107">[107]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-108">[108]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-109">[109]</a></p><span class="marker MOD15 mod-inline"></span> </section><span class="marker h6"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref396731"> <h2 class="h1">Number of Strikes and Casualties</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD16 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">According to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, there were at least 14,040 confirmed strikes between Jan. 2002 and Jan. 2019. Between 8,858 and 16,901 people were killed, including 910 to 2,200 civilians, of whom 283 to 454 were children. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-131">[131]</a></p><span class="marker MOD16 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD17 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The organization counted at least 336 strikes in Yemen between Jan. 2002 and Jan 2019, with a peak of 50 strikes in Mar. 2017. The strikes resulted in 1,020 to 1,389 people reported killed, among them 174 to 225 civilians, of whom 44 to 50 were children. An additional 155 to 303 people were injured by drone strikes in Yemen. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-131">[131]</a></p><span class="marker MOD17 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD18 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">In Pakistan, between Jan. 2005 and Jan. 2018, there were at least 430 confirmed drone strikes, with a peak of 23 strikes in Sep. 2010. At least 2,515 to 4,026 people were reported killed, including a minimum of 424 civilians, of whom at least 172 were children. An additional 1,162 to 1,749 people were reported injured. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-131">[131]</a></p><span class="marker MOD18 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD19 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">There were at least 202 confirmed drone strikes in Somalia between Jan. 2007 and Feb. 2020, with a peak of 15 strikes in Feb. 2019. Between 1,197 and 1,410 people were killed, including 12 to 97 civilians, among whom up to 13 were children. Another 39 to 58 were injured by drone strikes in Somalia. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-131">[131]</a></p><span class="marker MOD19 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD20 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">At least 13,072 drone strikes were carried out in Afghanistan between Jan. 2015 and Mar. 2020, with a peak of 1,113 strikes in Sep. 2019. Between 4,126 and 10,076 people were killed, including 300 to 909 civilians, of whom 66 to 184 were children. An additional 658 to 1,769 people were injured by the strikes. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-131">[131]</a></p><span class="marker MOD20 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD21 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The Bureau of Investigative Journalism shuttered in the spring of 2020, leaving researchers without an independent source for the number of drone strikes and casualties.</p><span class="marker MOD21 mod-inline"></span> </section><span class="marker h7"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref396732"> <h2 class="h1">Public Outcry</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD22 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">In a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Freedom-of-Information-Act" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Freedom of Information Act</a> request filed on Jan. 13, 2010, the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/American-Civil-Liberties-Union" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">American Civil Liberties Union</a> (ACLU) asked the U.S. government to disclose the legal and factual basis for its use of drones to conduct targeted killings abroad. In particular, the ACLU sought to find out when, where, and against whom drone strikes may be authorized and how the United States ensures compliance with international laws relating to extrajudicial killings. A federal appeals court judge ruled on Mar. 15, 2013 that the CIA may no longer assert the “fiction” that it can’t reveal whether it has a drone program. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-110">[110]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-111">[111]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-112">[112]</a></p><span class="marker MOD22 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD23 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Much of the public outcry about drones has been about the government’s secrecy and lack of transparency concerning drone strikes and how many civilians are killed. Under the stewardship of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Brennan" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">John O. Brennan</a>, President <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Barack-Obama" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Barack Obama</a>’s counter-terrorism adviser from Jan. 20, 2009 to Mar. 8, 2013, officials spent months discussing how to be more transparent about a program that was still officially secret and how to define its limits. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-117">[117]</a></p><span class="marker MOD23 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD24 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">On May 23, 2013, Obama released “Fact Sheet: U.S. Policy Standards and Procedures for the Use of Force in Counterterrorism Operations Outside the United States and Areas of Active Hostilities,” which listed five criteria that must be met before lethal action may be taken against a foreign target:</p><span class="marker MOD24 mod-inline"></span> <ul class="list-none "><li><div>“1. Near certainty that the terrorist target is present;</div></li><li><div>2. Near certainty that non-combatants will not be injured or killed;</div></li><li><div>3. An assessment that capture is not feasible at the time of the operation;</div></li><li><div>4. An assessment that the relevant governmental authorities in the country where action is contemplated cannot or will not effectively address the threat to U.S. persons; and</div></li><li><div>5. An assessment that no other reasonable alternatives exist to effectively address the threat to U.S. persons.” <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-33">[33]</a></div></li></ul> <span class="marker PREMOD25 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">President Obama gave a speech the same day at the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/National-Defense-University" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">National Defense University</a> outlining his justification for the drone program and promising more transparency and tighter policies regarding targeted killings. Obama stated that the United States would take military action only against a “continuing and imminent threat to the American people.” <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-10">[10]</a></p><span class="marker MOD25 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD26 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">On Oct. 15, 2015, the “Drone Papers,” a collection of classified documents about the U.S. drone program were released by an anonymous whistleblower. Among the revelations were that up to 90 percent of all U.S. drone killings in a five-month period were not of the intended targets, and that unintended deaths from strikes were classified as “enemies killed in action” regardless of whether the casualties were civilians or combatants. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-120">[120]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-121">[121]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-122">[122]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-132">[132]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-133">[133]</a></p><span class="marker MOD26 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD27 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">On July 1, 2016, Obama issued an <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/executive-order" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">executive order</a> with the goal of making the drones program more transparent. Among the polices were measures to reduce civilian casualties, acknowledgment of civilians killed in strikes, and an annual report on the number of strikes outside active hostilities, the number of casualties broken down by combatants and noncombatants, and reasons for discrepancies between governmental and nongovernmental organizations’ casualty counts. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-134">[134]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-135">[135]</a></p><span class="marker MOD27 mod-inline"></span> </section><span class="marker h8"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref396733"> <h2 class="h1">Donald Trump Administration</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD28 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">President <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Donald-Trump" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Donald Trump</a> revoked the July 1, 2016, executive order in 2019, stating “This action eliminates superfluous reporting requirements, requirements that do not improve government transparency, but rather distract our intelligence professionals from their primary mission.” Rights groups and lawmakers decried the enhanced secrecy and apparent lack of accountability. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-136">[136]</a></p><span class="marker MOD28 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD29 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">In July 2020 the Trump administration also loosened rules on exporting military armed drones to foreign nations, a practice that was previously <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/de-facto" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">de facto</a> banned. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-138">[138]</a></p><span class="marker MOD29 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD30 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">In the first two years of the Trump administration, there were 2,243 drone strikes, compared with 1,878 in the eight years of the Obama administration, according to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism. Airwars reported 40 airstrikes in Somalia between Jan. 1, 2020 and May 18, 2020, compared with 41 airstrikes in Somalia from 2007 to 2016. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-136">[136]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-137">[137]</a></p><span class="marker MOD30 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD31 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">A Jan. 23, 2020 poll, after the Jan. 3 drone strikes that killed Iranian Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani, found that 35% of Americans agreed that drone strikes were a “very effective way to achieve US foreign policy,” an increase from 23% in 2015. Fewer people believed that signing international agreements (29%), imposing sanctions (23%), or launching military interventions (17%) were very effective. Meanwhile, 47% supported President Trump’s decision to order the strikes that killed Soleimani and others. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-140">[140]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-141">[141]</a></p><span class="marker MOD31 mod-inline"></span> </section><span class="marker h9"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref396734"> <h2 class="h1">Joe Biden Administration</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD32 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">In October 2022 the administration of President <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Joe-Biden" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Joe Biden</a> tightened rules for drone strikes, including requiring that drone operators get permission from Biden himself to “target a suspected militant outside a conventional war zone” and requiring that operators “have ‘near certainty’ at the moment of any strike that civilians will not be injured.” Strikes were also limited to operations in which capture by a commando raid was not feasible. Targets who were American triggered more-extensive reviews. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-158">[158]</a></p><span class="marker MOD32 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD33 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">After continued <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Houthi-movement" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Houthi</a> drone and missile attacks on commercial shipping lanes in the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Red-Sea" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Red Sea</a> and American forces in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Jordan" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Jordan</a>, President Biden authorized strikes against Houthi targets in the<a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Red-Sea" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true"> Red Sea</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Yemen" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Yemen</a> (where the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Houthi-movement" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Houthi movement </a>is centered) with support from the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/United-Kingdom" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">United Kingdom</a>. The Department of Defense did not confirm which weapons were being used against Houthi forces, but experts believed that Standard Missile-2 missiles were being shot from warships in the Red Sea (meaning $2.1-million missiles were being used against drones costing a mere $2,000). <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-159">[159]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-160">[160]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-161">[161]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-162">[162]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-163">[163]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-164">[164]</a></p><span class="marker MOD33 mod-inline"></span> </section><section class="summary"><table class="pro-con"><thead><tr><th>PROS</th><th>CONS</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Pro 1: Drone strikes make the United States safer. <a href="/procon/drones-debate#ref396736">Read More.</a></td><td>Con 1: Drone strikes create more terrorists while terrorizing civilians. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#ref396741">Read More.</a></td></tr><tr><td>Pro 2: Drone strikes keep other countries safer. <a href="/procon/drones-debate#ref396737">Read More.</a></td><td>Con 2: Drone strikes violate human rights and nations’ sovereignty. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#ref396742">Read More.</a></td></tr><tr><td>Pro 3: Drones limit the scope, scale, and casualties of military action. <a href="/procon/drones-debate#ref396738">Read More.</a></td><td>Con 3: Drone strikes inflict psychological damage on drone pilots. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#ref396743">Read More.</a></td></tr></tbody></table></section><span class="marker" id="pro-2256967"></span><div class="mb-15" id="ref396735"><h2 class="h1 d-inline-block mb-0">Pro Arguments </h2> <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#ref396740">(Go to Con Arguments)</a></div><section class="pro"><span class="marker" id="ref396736"></span> <h2 class="h2">Pro 1: Drone strikes make the United States safer.</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD34 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Between 2013 and 2020, drone strikes in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen, and Somalia killed between 7,665 and 14,247 militants and alleged militants, including high-level commanders implicated in organizing plots against the United States. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-6">[6]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-7">[7]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-8">[8]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-9">[9]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-131">[131]</a></p><span class="marker MOD34 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD35 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">According to President Obama, “Dozens of highly skilled <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/al-Qaeda" class="md-crosslink pro" data-show-preview="true">al Qaeda</a> commanders, trainers, bomb makers and operatives have been taken off the battlefield. Plots have been disrupted that would have targeted international aviation, U.S. transit systems, European cities and our troops in Afghanistan. Simply put, these strikes have saved lives.” <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-10">[10]</a></p><span class="marker MOD35 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD36 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Beyond killing terrorists, that drones are remotely piloted saves American military lives. Drones are launched from bases in allied countries and are operated remotely by pilots in the United States, minimizing the risk of injury and death that would occur if ground soldiers and airplane pilots were used instead. The United States has the right under international law to “anticipatory self-defense,” which gives the right to use force against a real and imminent threat when the necessity of that self-defense is “instant, overwhelming, and leaving no choice of means, and no moment of deliberation.” <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-18">[18]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-28">[28]</a></p><span class="marker MOD36 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD37 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Al-Qaeda, the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Taliban" class="md-crosslink pro" data-show-preview="true">Taliban</a>, and their affiliates have often operated in distant and environmentally unforgiving locations where it would be extremely dangerous for the United States to deploy teams of special forces to track and capture terrorists. Such pursuits may pose serious risks to U.S. and allied troops including firefights with surrounding tribal communities, antiaircraft shelling, land mines, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), suicide bombers, snipers, dangerous weather conditions, and harsh environments. Drone strikes eliminate all of those risks common to “boots on the ground” missions. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-10">[10]</a></p><span class="marker MOD37 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD38 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">“Obtaining armed drones leads to about six fewer terrorist attacks and 31 fewer deaths from terrorism annually. This translates to a 35 percent reduction in attacks and a 75 percent decrease in fatalities per year….There is indeed a compelling counterterrorism rationale for utilizing armed drones to enhance national security. Although armed drone operations can be costly—for example, by causing civilian casualties—our findings strengthen the case that the benefits exceed the costs,” say Joshua A. Schwartz, postdoctoral fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Harvard Kennedy School, Matthew Fuhrmann, professor of political science at Texas A&M University, and Michael C. Horowitz, Richard Perry Professor at the University of Pennsylvania. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-165">[165]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-166">[166]</a></p><span class="marker MOD38 mod-inline"></span> </section><section class="pro"><span class="marker" id="ref396737"></span> <h2 class="h2">Pro 2: Drone strikes keep other countries safer.</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD39 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">U.S. drone strikes help countries fight terrorist threats to their own domestic peace and stability—threats including al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Pakistan, al-Shabaab in Somalia, al- Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula in Yemen, and al-Qaeda in the Maghreb in Algeria and Mali.</p><span class="marker MOD39 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD40 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia have officially consented to U.S. drone strikes within their countries, because they are unable to control terrorist groups within their own borders. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-26">[26]</a></p><span class="marker MOD40 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD41 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">On Aug. 21, 2020, for example, acting in cooperation with the Somali National Army, a U.S. drone strike killed a “high-ranking” al-Shabaab bomb and IED (improvised explosive device) maker. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-144">[144]</a></p><span class="marker MOD41 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD42 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Yemen’s former president, Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi, openly praised drone strikes in his country, stating that the “electronic brain’s precision is unmatched by the human brain.” <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-34">[34]</a></p><span class="marker MOD42 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD43 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">In a 2008 U.S. State Department cable made public by Wikileaks, the Pakistani chief of army staff General Ashfaq Kayani asked U.S. officials for more drone strikes, and in Apr. 2013 former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf acknowledged to CNN that his government had secretly signed off on U.S. drone strikes. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-35">[35]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-36">[36]</a></p><span class="marker MOD43 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD44 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">In Pakistan, where the vast majority of drone strikes are carried out, drones contributed to a major decrease in violence. The 41 suicide attacks in Pakistan in 2011 were down from a record high of 87 in 2009, which coincided with an over tenfold increase in the number of drone strikes. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-37">[37]</a></p><span class="marker MOD44 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD45 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">After the Jan. 2020 strike that killed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps major general Soleimani in Iran, President Trump stated, “Soleimani has been perpetrating acts of terror to destabilize the Middle East for the last 20 years.…Just recently, Soleimani led the brutal repression of protesters in Iran, where more than a thousand innocent civilians were tortured and killed by their own government.…The future belongs to the people of Iran—those who seek peaceful coexistence and cooperation—not the terrorist warlords who plunder their nation to finance bloodshed abroad.” <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-145">[145]</a></p><span class="marker MOD45 mod-inline"></span> </section><section class="pro"><span class="marker" id="ref396738"></span> <h2 class="h2">Pro 3: Drones limit the scope, scale, and casualties of military action.</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD46 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Invading Pakistan, Yemen, or Somalia with boots on the ground to capture relatively small terrorist groups would lead to expensive conflict, responsibility for destabilizing the governments of those countries, large numbers of civilian casualties, empowerment of enemies who view the United States as an occupying imperialist power, and U.S. military deaths, among other consequences. The U.S. attempt to destroy al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan by invading and occupying the country resulted in a war that dragged on for 13 years. Using drone strikes against terrorists abroad allows the United States to achieve its goals at a fraction of the cost of an invasion in money, manpower, lives, and other political consequences. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-142">[142]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-143">[143]</a></p><span class="marker MOD46 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD47 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Drones are launched from bases in allied countries and are operated remotely by pilots in the United States, minimizing the risk of injury and death that would occur if ground soldiers and airplane pilots were used instead. Al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and their affiliates often operate in distant and environmentally unforgiving locations where it would be extremely dangerous for the United States to deploy teams of special forces to track and capture terrorists. Such pursuits would pose serious risks to U.S. troops including firefights with surrounding tribal communities, antiaircraft shelling, land mines, IEDs, suicide bombers, snipers, dangerous weather conditions, and harsh environments. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-10">[10]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-18">[18]</a></p><span class="marker MOD47 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD48 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Furthermore, drone pilots suffer less than traditional pilots, because they do not have to be directly present on the battlefield, can live a normal civilian life in the United States, and do not risk death or serious injury. Only 4% of active-duty drone pilots are at “high risk for PTSD” compared with the 12–17% of soldiers who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-46">[46]</a></p><span class="marker MOD48 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD49 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The traditional weapons of war—bombs, shells, mines, mortars—cause more collateral (unintended) damage to people and property than drones, whose accuracy and technical precision limit casualties mostly to combatants and intended targets. Between 2013 and 2020, civilians accounted for just 7–15% of those killed by drones in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen. In the Korean, Vietnam, and Balkan Wars, civilian deaths accounted for approximately 70%, 31%, and 45% of deaths, respectively. Civilian deaths in World War II are estimated to have been 40–67% of total war deaths. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-13">[13]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-14">[14]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-15">[15]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-16">[16]</a> <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-17">[17]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-131">[131]</a></p><span class="marker MOD49 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD50 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Former U.S. secretary of defense Robert Gates stated, “You can far more easily limit collateral damage with a drone than you can with a bomb, even a precision-guided munition, off an airplane.” And former CIA director Leon Panetta and former State Department legal adviser Harold Hongju Koh concurred, both using the word “precise” to describe drone strikes. <a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-149">[149]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-150">[150]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-151">[151]</a><a href="/procon/drones-debate/Pro-Quotes#pcref-2256967-152">[152]</a></p><span class="marker MOD50 mod-inline"></span> </section></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article></div> </div></div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"PROCON","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":2,"pageId":2256967,"pageLength":3045,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.130.14"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.130.14' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"D","adLeg":"D","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"PAGINATED","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Drones | Pros, Cons, Debate, Arguments, Controversy, Warfare, Military, Bombs, Missiles, & War on Terror | Britannica