The medium, short and close range UAVs can operate in limited space majorly because of the lack of satellite communication systems. The Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) can be used for forty hours at a distance greater than three thousand kilo metres. They can also be used to fire precision guided missiles. An example of the Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) is 'Predator'. (Cavoukian 2012, 6)
c. Strategic Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
With the increase in altitude the weight, flight range and endurance of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) also increase. The heaviest Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, today, are the High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) UAVs. These UAVs have a takeoff weight of up to twelve thousand kilograms. They can fly at a maximum altitude of twenty thousand metres. These are designed to carry sophisticated, larger and heavier equipments. A well-known and sophisticated Unmanned Aerial Vehicle belonging to this category is 'The military UAV Global Hawk'. It has an endurance of about thirty five hours. The example of non-military High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) is Helios. It is operated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The Helios provides power to the electronically driven propellers by the use of solar panels and it has set the record breaking altitude limit of thirty thousand metres. The general functions performed by the Helios UAV include, observation of earth, atmospheric analysis and mapping. (Cavoukian 2012, 7)
d. Surveillance Drones
Most of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles consist of or employ video cameras that can transfer images and video footages to the ground stations. With the passage of time these surveillance drones have become cheaper and more sophisticated. They can capture images at great distances and have a higher camera resolution as well. Some surveillance UAVs are or can be equipped with sensor cameras. An example of sensor cameras is 'forward-looking infrared camera'. Such a camera can detect infrared radiations that are being emitted from a source, usually a heat source. These cameras can then create a picture of the source assembled with the video footage which is then transmitted to the ground stations. In addition to that, with the help of advanced video analytics, artificial intelligence can be applied to the procedure of collecting and processing considerable amount of video data. This technology is combined with the facial recognition software and this combination is then used to track individuals in public and in even in private as well. It can track individuals even through windows and walls. (Cavoukian 2012, 7)
e. Armed Drones
Armed drones are the pilotless or remotely operated devices that work on the basis of an installed program or software or are operated by various ground stations. These devices are used in army or military operations. They are used to kill people who are identified as terrorists by the government or any other intelligence agency. (Kutyreva 2013, 1)
3. Benefits Associated With the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)
There are a number of benefits associated with the use of the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). In the homeland security, they provide assistance to the domestic law enforcement and security agencies to have a better control over the law and order conditions of the nation. In addition to that, with the help of this technology the law enforcement agencies are able to handle the threats to the domestic or homeland security in a better way. (Tom 2013, 1-2). In relation to terrorism, these UAVs help us in better combating the terrorist attacks. The Unmanned Aerial system has now been adopted as a weapon of choice by the military and the intelligence agencies of the United States of America to target and kill the terrorists and other extremists in locations such as Pakistan, Yemen and Afghanistan etcetera. (Pedrozo 2011, 218). Apart from that, Drones also have reduced the ability of the terrorist organizations to operate effectively by having a negative impact on their psychology as they are at a threat of being killed by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and they are aware of the fact that they always remain under close surveillance. (Smith et al. 2013, 315-316)
3.1. Drones and Domestic Security
Drones have been utilized internationally and domestically in the current era. In the domestic area, drones or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are being employed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to quickly respond to the domestic threats. They are also being utilized to effectively tackle the national security threats and national emergencies. In addition...
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