Title
Autonomous weapon systems: Is a space warfare manual required?
Abstract
The legalities for the use of Autonomous Weapon Systems (AWS) in space warfare are examined. Currently, there are manuals for air and missile warfare, naval warfare and cyber warfare, a clear gap in the literature is that there is no manual for space warfare. We find that the current jurisprudence of space is somewhat considered analogous to the high seas and in the absence of a Space Warfare Manual, legal jurisdiction may consider that certain treaties are only in effect when in the territory of that State. In turn, the effectiveness of those treaties may mitigate against any obligations related to the military operations of that same State using AWS in space. Whilst it is yet to be tested in the courts, there are significant gaps identified in Lex lata and supporting Declarations, Principles and Treaties in terms of space warfare. Such gaps could act as the foundations for both law reform and the requirement for the creation of a Space Warfare Manual.
Year
DOI
Venue
2017
10.1016/j.clsr.2017.03.004
Computer Law & Security Review
Keywords
DocType
Volume
Autonomous weapon systems,Space law,Space warfare manual
Journal
33
Issue
ISSN
Citations 
3
0267-3649
1
PageRank 
References 
Authors
0.36
0
4
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Patrick van Esch120.70
Gavin Northey210.36
Magdalene Striluk310.36
Helen Wilson410.36