Drones used in war have been a topic of controversy ever since they were first sent across seas after the September 11 attacks. These original drones were not armed until after an operator was believed to have spotted Osama Bin Laden. The U.S military would like to be able to take out targets without putting American soldiers in danger and the best way to do this by strapping projectiles onto unmanned drones. Some would say that People who see their loved ones injured or killed in drone attacks become motivated to join actions against the United States. While this could be true, drones have a number of advantages against traditional warfare.
The cost of the drone operations amount to approximately 1% of the U.S Armed Forces military budget. US manned military attack aircrafts cost anywhere from $18,000 to $169,000 per hour to operate, six to 42 times more than attack drones. By decreasing the cost of attack weapons the government can spend more time and money on other pressing matters for instance our countries attempts to use more clean energy sources.
Another reason to use drones is there pin-point accuracy. Arguments have arouse that drones cause too much collateral damage or too many civilian deaths. Unwanted casualties are inevitable in a combat situation but if the weapon can be directed to a precise location where minimal collateral damage can be done then that would mean less people wanting to turn against America as stated in the opening paragraph. By pin-pointing the exact location, the drones can be launched in a way that would minimize damage to communities. Also by having this kind of accuracy, targets can be eliminated more efficiently.
My last argument is that drones can provide an extra safety measure. A drone can have limitless applications with the modern technologies. As an example, infrared cameras could hover in the sky helping the soldiers on the ground, preventing surprise attacks or a trap. Instead of sending foot soldiers on recon missions, a drone can sit in the sky above a given area for up to 72 hours watching with advanced technology. All in all our beloved soldiers will be safer.
In conclusion the Benefits greatly outweigh the draw-backs. With drones costings less than a manned aircraft it is more effective price wise. Because they are computer operated they can be sent to a precise location to minimalize collateral damage. And finally and most importantly, they will provide safety for our soldiers on the ground.
Citations
News, Channel 4. “Q&A: Military Drones Explained.” CHANNEL4. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2017.
“Drones – ProCon.org.” Should the United States Continue Its Use of Drone Strikes Abroad?N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2017.
Department of Defense, “United States Department of Defense Fiscal Year 2014 Budget Request,” comptroller.defense.gov, Apr. 2013