Topic: Autonomous Weapon Systems
Country: Egypt
Delegate Name: Ethan Simon
School: Grand Blanc High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Egypt position papers GLIMUN 2015 committees
Presently, Autonomous Weapon Systems are being used in greater quantities by countries with the resources and technology to develop them. In the past decade they have gained a greater prominence among the the militaries of the world as they become more advanced. More developed countries tend to use a greater amount of them, compared to countries with smaller or less well-equipped militaries. The most common form of autonomous weapon systems are Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. Controversy has arisen over the fact that the human element has been taken out of this portion of warfare. There is concern over the lack of proficiency in qualitative data analysis that limits the decision making capabilities of the AWS. It is imperative to discuss and reach a decision on this issue in order to set a precedent for future generations.
Egypt is not opposed to the use of drones in warfare, as they provide excellent tools for the combating of terrorist organizations, and believes that these advances in technology should be explored in a more complete state. We have used these weapon platforms to combat the growing problem of insurgency in the region. While Egypt does support the use of drones in warfare, we believe that a cautious approach should be taken in regards to the development and use of these weapons. They are a versatile tool that allows for a more aggressive strategy when combating insurgents and terrorist cells in remote regions. There are also a number of not-lethal UAVs in use by the Egyptian military at this time that provide surveillance and information gathering services.
Egypt proposes that the development of automated weapon systems be explored more thoroughly in order for regulations and laws to more firmly govern the use and development of such technology. The better understanding of the capabilities of these systems is imperative to the responsible use of them, as well as any possible advancements made in that field. These technologies currently being developed are an important step forward in the battle against insurgents and terrorists waging war on countries around the world.
