France has decided to arm its surveillance drones

On the 5th of September 2017, French Minister of Defense, Florance Parly, announced that France has decided to arm its surveillance drones in West Africa as part of counter-terrorism operations against suspected Islamists militants.

No timeframe was given for the arming of these nor was it clear what framework would guide their use. Despite Parly’s mention that “The drones wouldn’t become “killer robots,” … stressing that strikes would be governed by strict national and international rules relating to the use of force”, EFAD stresses the need to articulate clear policies and legal frameworks for using armed drones in this or any other manner.