On 8 June 2022, IRW’s Prototype Warfare project will host a symposium in collaboration with the Advisory Council on International Affairs (AIV) to discuss the current state of the development, deployment, and regulation of autonomy in defence systems with military commanders, academics, journalists, students, and representatives of start-ups and NGOs.

While the war in Ukraine rages on, the Dutch state seems to be laying the political foundations for the armament of its military drones. In an op-ed in Het Parool, IRW’s Lauren Gould and Jip van Dort reflect on the shortcomings of this political process.

One day after the Dutch armed forces made the first test-flight with a brand new MQ-9 Reaper, the Dutch House of Representatives will vote on a resolution to allow for its armament. IRW argues a more thorough debate is required.

On March 25 to 27, the Disruption Network Lab organizes its 26th conference: The Kill Cloud. Through various panels and workshops with veterans, whistleblowers, and professionals, attendees will dive deeper into the real-world implications of networked warfare, drones, and artificial intelligence. The conference takes place in Kunstquartier Bethanien, Berlin, and will be streamed live for

This article examines a 2020 incident in Libya, of which the UN reported the use of a lethal autonomous weapon. It provides insight into what is meant by autonomy in weapon systems and its ramifications for war and its victims, both current and future.

IRW is excited to announce our new Community Engaged Learning project under the Prototype Warfare programme.

Dr. Elke Schwarz discusses the ethics surrounding increasing AI integration in military systems in her keynote lecture at “The Algorithmic Turn in Security and Warfare” conference.

This IRW project develops a fuller understanding of how humans shape technologies, and how technologies shape our actions in warfare.

IRW’s project leader Lauren Gould relays why she thinks the concept of surveillance is key to understanding the changing nature of warfare in the 21st century.

Researchers Aoife Keogh (MA) and Dr. Lauren Gould reflect on the recent developments in Afghanistan.

Guest authors dr. Marijn Hoijtink and Marlene Tröstl reflect on the sharp contrast between human empathy for military robots and the dehumanization of local publics that underpins remote warfare.

Contemporary warfare is becoming increasingly defined by distance. Instead of deploying large numbers of boots on the ground, many Western and non-Western states rely on support and training for local actors, employment of private military contractors and remote weaponry for airstrikes and surveillance This is remote warfare, the dominant method of military engagement employed by

[Video] IRW Director Dr. Lauren Gould spoke at online Symposium hosted by PAX called The War of Tomorrow: How are novel military technologies changing modern conflicts?

Don’t miss IRW Director Dr Lauren Gould speaking about how novel military technologies are changing modern conflict at NGO PAX’s online symposium.

The notion that deploying drones will enable militaries to conduct war with greater precision and less civilian harm is neither new, nor accurate argues the IRW team in an op-ed for the Dutch newspaper the NRC.

‘The conversation is not about the morality of going to war, but rather the technology of winning’ claims former US Marine Anthony Swofford in article for MIT Technology Review.

Whilst a deluge of video clips showing drone-captured footage of air and missile strikes on seemingly defenceless ground vehicles led some to proclaim the ‘death of the tank’, this may have been an overestimation of the real impact drones had in the conflict.

This webinar addresses the trends in global drone development and use, and discusses where campaigners should be focusing their efforts in the coming years.

In this De Correspondent article and accompanying podcast, Lennart Hofman asks if the military investments in AI is justified, or if the hype around AI is simply that – hype.

This five part podcast series made by IRW’s Isa Zoetbrood reflects on The Netherlands’ use of remote warfare and the acquisition of its first MQ reaper drones.

Kelsey Atherton reflects on the technological innovation and political stagnation of a forever war.

Project Maven and what the automation of data analysis means for targeting

What do we talk about when we talk about precision in warfare?

Maike Verbruggen considers the dynamics shaping civil-military relations surrounding LAWS

Hoijtink and Leese explore new ways of thinking about new technologies.

Gregory on the human impacts of technological warfare.

This documentary from Schuchen Tan examines the use of open-source intelligence for monitoring and investigating conflict.

Gregoire Chamayou’s searing critique of drone warfare.

Peter Asaro explores what it means to be a soldier of remote warfare.