Sea drones: warships or weapons? Legal status and implications
Journal: International Review of the Red Cross
Year: 2026

Abstract Rapid technological development of autonomous and unmanned systems has impacted all sectors of industry. Now, sea drones capable of delivering force – i.e., designed or equipped to cause injury or damage – are also transforming naval warfare. The tangible effects of their deployment are already witnessed in, for example, the international armed conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine in the Black Sea. Despite the ongoing use of sea drones during naval hostilities, however, t