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Research has resulted in improvements to the quality of life for Reaper drone pilots through the introduction of ethics training and improved awareness of the psychological and emotional impacts.

The Challenge

RAF Reaper drones have been widely deployed in combat missions since 2007. The ethics of the use of these drones is widely debated, with pilots delivering lethal strikes from physical safety thousands of miles away. Pilots lacked a suitable ethics vocabulary or framework and were found to be uncertain about this topic, having received no ethical guidance in their training. Their experiences led to increased psychological and emotional jeopardy.

What did we do?

Peter Lee carried out extensive research into the experiences of Reaper drone pilots and existing training practices. Based on his findings, Lee submitted written evidence to the APPGDrones enquiry, as well as delivering in-person teaching on the ethics of remote warfare to 80% of RAF Reaper drone crew members.

The Impact

Following the recommendations of Lee鈥檚 paper to the APPGDrones enquiry, drone pilots now receive mandatory professional ethics training designed by Lee, and the RAF are in the process of exploring options for providing psychological support for operators at regular intervals. These changes support the emotional and psychological wellbeing of pilots and inform their decision making process. 

Lee has also influenced policy debate, offering advice at roundtable events and providing expert support elsewhere. His engagement introduces a previously lacking ethical perspective to discourse around remote air warfare.

Podcast

Professor Peter Lee, whose pioneering work on the ethics of military drones has driven a positive shift in the Royal Air Force鈥檚 training of its reaper squadrons to support their physical and mental wellbeing as they make life-or-death choices.

Bringing ethics training to drone pilots

Peter Lee