ABSTRACT
This chapter opens with the submission that in the development of the drone technology, if the production of armed drones that are resilient, that possess speed, stealth, and decoy capabilities (enough to enable them protect themselves against air defence systems) sounds ominous and threatening, then the development of Autonomous Weapons System (AWS) that involves the miniaturization and development of robotic and mindless drones that would not have anything to do with human interventions is even of a greater concern to humanity. The miniaturization and automation of armed drones in the AWS are critical dilemmas in the availability of the now intractably sophisticated new technology in the military arsenal of some developed nations. It is argued here that the in the war on terror (as in every other war), the AWS cannot deal with the critical issues of distinction and proportionality—two cornerstones of international humanitarian law—that are designed to not only protect civilians but to also ensure that for every attack, the military advantage gained must not be disproportional to the collateral damage.
