ADF should say no to drone assassination

Australia should acquire armed drone aircraft for national defence and troop protection but not use them to target terrorists for assassination, a Senate inquiry has heard.

Military ethics specialist Christian Enemark says Australia also shouldn't use drones capable of engaging targets without human involvement.

In a submission to the Senate foreign affairs committee inquiry into the growing use of unmanned air, sea and land vehicles, he said the Australian Defence Force currently used only unarmed surveillance drones.

But it wouldn't be a large step to acquire armed drones. Senior defence officers say that's inevitable.

"From an ethical perspective, however, the risk in taking the step to arm Australian drones is that this could open the door to unjust uses of force by Australian governments and/or by Australian military personnel," he said.

Dr Enemark said the ADF should use armed drones for national defence and force protection with the full knowledge and consent of politicians.

Armed drones shouldn't be used for attacks in countries with which Australia isn't at war.

"The ADF should not use armed drones to execute an individual identified as a terrorist by a civilian intelligence agency," he said.

The ANU Centre for Military and Security Law submission said ADF surveillance drones could still be involved in breaches of international law.

It cites hypothetical cases, one involving surveillance of a drug baron, regarded by Australia as a criminal but by ally "State B" as lethally targetable because of his funding of terror groups.

State B has access to the ADF video feed and could use that to launch an attack, potentially implicating ADF personnel in breaches of international and Australian law.

The committee's report will be released in June.