Andre Haider
Joint Air Power Competence Centre, Combat Air Branch, Unmanned Combat Aircraft Subject Matter Expert
Lieutenant Colonel Haider is the Joint Air Power Competence Centre’s (JAPCC) Unmanned Aircraft Systems Subject Matter Expert since 2011 and JAPCC’s representative in the NATO Joint Capability Group Unmanned Aircraft Systems (JCGUAS) since 2012. He joined the German Armed Forces in 1992 and is an artillery officer by trade with over fifteen years’ experience in command and control and operational planning. He is also a trained United Nations Missions Observer and participated in several EU and NATO missions. His last post was Deputy Commander of the German Army’s MLRS Rocket Artillery Battalion.
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Papers by Andre Haider
We recommend reading this paper if you find yourself seeking answers to these questions. It delves into the immediate actions individuals should take in the first few minutes of a drone incident before the arrival of the guard force, police, or other first responders. It’s important to note that this paper does not focus on technically advanced countermeasures provided by professional C-UAS systems. Instead, its emphasis lies in guiding individuals on how to respond to a drone incident safely and effectively, much like administering first aid measures before the arrival of an ambulance or implementing evacuation measures before the appearance of a bomb squad.
The paper briefly describes a spectrum of C-UAS considerations and why the current focus on the low, slow, and small end, although imminent and essential, is not sufficient to cover all aspects of defence against potential adversary UAS engagements.
Under the umbrella of the ‘Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects,’ the United Nations (UN) conducted informal expert meetings on the topic of Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS) in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Succeeding a Multinational Capability Development Campaign (MCDC) on the ‘Role of Autonomous Systems in Gaining Operational Access’, Allied Command Transformation (ACT) is currently working on a ‘Counter Unmanned Autonomous Systems’ concept for the Alliance.5 However, international law, as well as NATO doctrine, does not currently address the potential legal and ethical issues which may arise from the use of highly automated weapon systems.
The complexity of remotely piloted systems amplifies the reliance on contractor-provided technical field support. Most major RPAS manufacturers regularly deploy civilian teams to combat zones to support their military customers. This support typically includes ‘traditional’ repair and maintenance services. It also may include launch and recovery support as well as piloting the aircraft and operating its sensors. Quite a few nations currently contract civilian RPA pilots and operators to conduct unarmed Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions with a very low probability of combat involvement.
Integrating RPAS in non-segregated airspace is a complex topic, which includes airworthiness standards, pilot certifications, aviation regulations and procedures as well as technical challenges unique to remotely controlled aircraft. This document highlights two of these challenges, assessing them to be crucial for the way ahead and to be addressed first and foremost.
Therefore, this study provides a detailed assessment of current RPAS components’ limitations and vulnerabilities, addressing operational, technical and legal questions. It outlines a vision of possible future conflict scenarios and compares these predicted threats with current capabilities. The study focuses on Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) and High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) RPAS. However, the identified risks and threats, as well as the given recommendations, may apply to other classes of RPAS as well.
Books by Andre Haider
We recommend reading this paper if you find yourself seeking answers to these questions. It delves into the immediate actions individuals should take in the first few minutes of a drone incident before the arrival of the guard force, police, or other first responders. It’s important to note that this paper does not focus on technically advanced countermeasures provided by professional C-UAS systems. Instead, its emphasis lies in guiding individuals on how to respond to a drone incident safely and effectively, much like administering first aid measures before the arrival of an ambulance or implementing evacuation measures before the appearance of a bomb squad.
The paper briefly describes a spectrum of C-UAS considerations and why the current focus on the low, slow, and small end, although imminent and essential, is not sufficient to cover all aspects of defence against potential adversary UAS engagements.
Under the umbrella of the ‘Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects,’ the United Nations (UN) conducted informal expert meetings on the topic of Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS) in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Succeeding a Multinational Capability Development Campaign (MCDC) on the ‘Role of Autonomous Systems in Gaining Operational Access’, Allied Command Transformation (ACT) is currently working on a ‘Counter Unmanned Autonomous Systems’ concept for the Alliance.5 However, international law, as well as NATO doctrine, does not currently address the potential legal and ethical issues which may arise from the use of highly automated weapon systems.
The complexity of remotely piloted systems amplifies the reliance on contractor-provided technical field support. Most major RPAS manufacturers regularly deploy civilian teams to combat zones to support their military customers. This support typically includes ‘traditional’ repair and maintenance services. It also may include launch and recovery support as well as piloting the aircraft and operating its sensors. Quite a few nations currently contract civilian RPA pilots and operators to conduct unarmed Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions with a very low probability of combat involvement.
Integrating RPAS in non-segregated airspace is a complex topic, which includes airworthiness standards, pilot certifications, aviation regulations and procedures as well as technical challenges unique to remotely controlled aircraft. This document highlights two of these challenges, assessing them to be crucial for the way ahead and to be addressed first and foremost.
Therefore, this study provides a detailed assessment of current RPAS components’ limitations and vulnerabilities, addressing operational, technical and legal questions. It outlines a vision of possible future conflict scenarios and compares these predicted threats with current capabilities. The study focuses on Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) and High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) RPAS. However, the identified risks and threats, as well as the given recommendations, may apply to other classes of RPAS as well.