Drones for the Bundeswehr? How the SPD maneuvers itself into opposition without facts and populistically.

Last week, the (still) governing SPD party revived the drone debate and – in keeping with old tradition – began it with a 180-degree turnaround in terms of content. Contrary to the negotiated coalition agreement, it is now balking at procurement and trying to dominate the debate with perceived truths and suppressed facts. But instead, the SPD paints a very different picture: that of a party that is shabbily stealing its way out of government responsibility and preparing for its future opposition role.

Shabby not only because this is being done on the backs of our soldiers, but also because it harms the security of all citizens of the Federal Republic. Shabby because it gambles away the trust of our partners in Europe and NATO. And shabby because Trump’s principle of freedom of facts now seems viable for the SPD.

But first things first: We already know the terms ‘killer drone’, ‘automated killings’ paired with a lot of cyber cyber and AI as fear stoking fighting terms. But what is it that is to be procured in the first place, and what technical capabilities do these flying machines really have?

First things first: The weapons are not triggered by an algorithm. No program code or nebulous ‘AI’ decides over life and death. The Heron is a ‘remotely’ controlled fixed-wing aircraft.

It is a drone, which is built like a conventional airplane, only without a pilot on board. The pilot sits in a container a few hundred kilometres away and controls the drone from there via an encrypted, satellite-based radio link. And here is the next point, which is often underestimated: The pilots are in the country of operation, not in their home office.

But if you still have to move people and materiel, what is the advantage of relying on a drone instead of a conventional fighter aircraft? Two aspects are most important here:

First, the so-called standing time, i.e. the time a drone can circle over the area of operations, is significantly higher. This is because the pilots on the ground can be replaced at any time and, by eliminating the flight cabin, the weight saved goes into greater fuel efficiency. This has a major advantage for patrols on the ground: they can be accompanied over a long period of time and dangerous situations, such as those caused by buried explosive devices or ambushes, can be detected and countered in advance.

The second and very decisive effect is that no human lives are lost if the aircraft is lost – for example, due to enemy fire.

But what happens when weapons are used? Then the pilots look at a display of a high-resolution camera, just as they know it from their Eurofighters. As in the fighter aircraft, they make the decision as to whether or not it is a legitimate military target. And in the case of a drone, they can even bring in a senior officer for a multi-level clearance. Once this is done, they press the same button as in their Eurofighter.

No computer makes the decision, no algorithm kills. With the drones envisioned, there is always a human ‘in the loop,’ firmly involved in the decision chain. You can’t do it without one.

The term ‘killer drone’ always conjures up images of the US drone war in the Afghan-Pakistan border region. The wedding party which was hit by missiles, the targeted killings of suspected terrorists, without charge, without court, only on the basis of questionable intelligence. The families as regrettable collateral damage. Will German drones be flying along with them any time soon?

Not at all. Because if the SPD is already shaking up the constitutional and democratic fidelity of our soldiers here, it must also do so with all other organs: the courts, the citizens and, first and foremost, itself.

After all, the Bundestag decides when and where soldiers are deployed and with what means and legal framework they do so.

Anyone who is afraid that German drones will carry out exterritorial killings must be afraid that our democratic and parliamentary system has failed.

He must be afraid that the courts will no longer prosecute criminal offenses. And he must be afraid that we citizens would tolerate such things without action.

So dear SPD, let’s be honest. The drones are not automatic killing machines straight out of the movie Terminator. They are tools for our army, for our citizens in uniform, who have sworn to defend the law and freedom of the Federal Republic of Germany and put their lives on the line day after day.

The least we can do as a society is to provide them with the best equipment to fulfil this mission. Not least in an increasingly threatening world politics, where it again seems opportune for powers like Russia or Turkey to wage territorial wars.

In which China openly seeks military confrontation with democratic states like Taiwan. Democracy, freedom and human rights are a great good – let us stand up for them resolutely with our European friends.

And last but not least: Many years ago, the Pirates started an initiative to outlaw digital weapons internationally. This also includes programs that make the decision to fire weapon systems themselves. So, if you’re really serious about your cause, you’re welcome to join us in the fight. Also, our friends from the SPD!