Expert consultations on Global Challenges and Threats Associated with UAS
The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and Conflict Armament Research (CAR) organized expert consultations on Global Challenges and Threats Associated with Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) from 25-27 January 2023. This three-day Member States Conference was the second phase in a three-pronged project to examine threats posed by UAS for terrorism-related purposes; national and regional experiences and priorities in addressing UAS threats; and policymaking to prevent and mitigate risks pertaining to acquisition, weaponization, and deployment of UAS by non-state armed groups.
During the first phase, UNOCT’s Global Counter-Terrorism Programme on Autonomous and Remotely Operated Systems (AROS) and CAR developed and disseminated a questionnaire to Member States, international organizations, and national entities to gather data and determine global UAS trends.
The insights from the survey and the three-day expert consultations will be utilized in the third and final phase of this project: the publishing of the Global Report on the Acquisition, Weaponization, and Deployment of UAS by Non-state Armed Groups for Terrorism-related Purposes, expected in October 2023.
Background
The international community faces a challenging threat as terrorist organizations continue to prove their ability to adapt and evolve, moving beyond conventional attacks to threaten individuals, populations, facilities, and public order. This includes the use of Autonomous and Remotely Operated Systems (AROS) for reconnaissance, direct and indirect attack, and conveyance to support propaganda. Moreover, evidence demonstrates that terrorists have begun to weaponize AROS, thereby creating the ability to execute lethal attacks which pose a threat to all States. The possibility of terrorist groups combining technologies, such as using AROS as a dispersal device of chemical, biological, or radiological material, presents a serious threat with global consequences.
To address this growing concern, UNOCT is committed to increasing global awareness on the risks of UAS and their potential use for terrorism-related purposes, and to enhancing Member States’ ability to prevent and mitigate UAS-related terrorism.