Chapter 5 The Use of Autonomous Weapons and the Role of the Legal Advisor

Abstract

This chapter seeks to frame the question of the legal advisor role in the use of autonomous weapons. It addresses the role of a legal advisor in the use of autonomous weapons. The chapter starts with a brief discussion of the contents of the legal advice, and discusses the framework under which such legal advice might be provided. The use of autonomous weapons describes their actual deployment in combat, after their development has been completed and personnel have been trained for their use. The focus in this chapter is on autonomy as an idea, not the type of weapon. The chapter contributes to thought within the military legal advisor community on adaptation to the continued development of autonomous weapons. Autonomous weapons designers should consider legal advice and legal advice frameworks when creating weapon architecture. Keywords:autonomous weapons; combat; framework; legal advisor; weapon architecture