Australia Starts U.S. Reaper Drones Training

Less than a week after Washington announced it will begin selling its unmanned aerial vehicles General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper drone to global allies, Australia has deployed a number of its air force personnel to train for the use of the system.

No decision has actually been arrived yet if Australia will indeed purchase one, but the personnel deployment is a positive signal towards that. "It would be remiss of Australia not to continue to develop our knowledge of this technology to ensure we are able to gain the greatest benefit from unmanned aerial systems and the best protection for our troops on future operations,” Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Darren Chester, said in a statement.

In a memo released on Tuesday, the U.S. State Department said its UAV will be exported to global ally nations, but under strict trading conditions. Nations should provide "end-use assurances" as to why they need to purchase or use the MQ-9 Reaper drone. Chester said the drones will greatly help Australia in its missions, as they have “a proven record of providing 'eyes in the sky' in the Middle East region."

But before Australia gets its hand on an MQ-9 Reaper drone, it must first pass a list of stringent requirements laid down by the U.S. Australia would be asked to first present a strong case why it needs the weapons.

The U.S. will also require it to adhere to a "proper use" principles, which is basically for purposes of national defence. Australia’s usage of the drone will be monitored by the U.S. even after sale, in what is dubbed as "end-use monitoring" and "additional security conditions" in the state department document. Part of the U.S. policy before exporting the drone to Australia states that the drones cannot be used to carry out "unlawful surveillance or use unlawful force against their domestic populations.”

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