Drones in modern warfare under discussion at University lecture

Drones – and how they have come to occupy such a large presence in recent conflicts across the world – will come under the spotlight at a lecture at the University of Wolverhampton this week.

The final Trenchard Lecture – the third in this year’s series - will take place on Thursday 19 November at 6pm, MC001, at the University’s City Campus. It will address the use of drones (remotely piloted aerial vehicles), with reference to the Afghanistan War and the war against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

The lecture, entitled 'Drone Wars – The Politics and Ethics of Remote Operations', will be presented by Dr Peter Lee, Reader in Politics and Ethics at the University of Portsmouth’s Business School, based at the RAF College in Cranwell.

Dr Peter Lee said: “The advent of lethal strike-capable drones in the twenty-first century has added new dimensions to the ways that states engage politically and militarily with security challenges.

“It is vital that we understand the impact of drones in recent years if they are to be used in ways that are morally, legally and politically acceptable in the future.”

The Trenchard Lectures in Air Power Studies are a programme organised by the Royal Air Force Museum, in partnership with the University of Wolverhampton and the Royal Aeronautical Society.

Dr Ross Mahoney, Aviation Historian at the RAF Museum and convenor of the Trenchard Lectures, said: “The Trenchard Lectures have marked an important step in the development of the RAF Museum’s academic aspirations. The Museum is pleased to be holding the series in conjunction with the University of Wolverhampton, which has a world renowned reputation in the field of History and War Studies.

“The lectures explore historical and contemporary issues related to the employment of air power. The forthcoming lecture by Dr Peter Lee, a noted expert on the use of remotely piloted aerial vehicles, will explore some of the political and ethical issues surrounding the use of these controversial platforms. This is a highly relevant topic as we see the increasing of RPAS over the battlefield; as such, Dr Lee’s lecture will help bridge the gap between the academic and public discourse by sharing and distributing his research to a wider audience.”

Dr Peter Preston-Hough, from the University’s Department of History, Politics and War Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, said: “We’re delighted to have hosted this prestigious series of lectures, which have provided an interesting insight into this fascinating area of history. The University has a strong relationship with the RAF Museum and have worked closely with them on the lectures.”

For more information on courses in history, war studies and other related subjects at the University of Wolverhampton, please visit www.wlv.ac.uk/foss

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