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Join the Freeman Air and Space Institute (FASI) for this online webinar discussion, exploring the future of drones in warfare.
As uncrewed aerial systems take on an increasingly prominent role in military operations around the world, fundamental questions remain: should drones replace or supplement crewed aircraft, and over what timeframe? Can the UK procure sovereign uncrewed technologies at the scale and pace required, or will international partnerships be essential? What is or could the role of drones be in deterrence and warfighting?
Our expert panellists - Greg Bagwell, Keith Dear, and Dominika Kunertova - will discuss these and other operational, industrial and ethical questions arising from drone usage. The conversation will inform debate over uncrewed aerial systems ahead of the UK's Strategic Defence Review. The panel will be followed by a Q&A session.
Meet the panel:
Chaired by Arun Dawson, PhD candidate at the Freeman Air and Space Institute this panel brings together leading experts on air power, defence, and international security:
Arun Dawson
Arun Dawson is a PhD candidate at the Freeman Air and Space Institute, where his research examines British grand strategy through the lens of fighter jet procurement. His recent publications include ‘Concept to Combat: The Royal Air Force, Small Drones, and the War in Ukraine,’ co-authored with Aleix Nadal for the European Review of International Studies. Before beginning his PhD, Arun interned at NATO, working closely with the Joint Capability Group on Unmanned Aircraft Systems. In addition to his research, he teaches courses on air and space power at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom and is an elected Associate of King’s College.
Greg Bagwell
Greg Bagwell served for 36 years in the Royal Air Force, retiring as an Air Marshal, Deputy Commander and a member of the Air Force Board. He flew the Tornado GR1, GR4 and F-18 Hornet on operations for over 20 years. In his final three years as Deputy Commander, he was responsible for the safety, supervision and force generation and delivery of all RAF operations, at home and overseas.On leaving the Service, in 2017, he became the Head of Business Development for Cobham plc, and in 2020 he became, and remains, an Executive Director of Cobham Ltd. He also holds an executive role at Ultra Ltd and a non-executive directorship at NATS, the UK's National Air Traffic ServiceHe is the President of the UK Air & Space Power Association, a Distinguished Fellow of the Royal United Services Institute, and a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.He is a trustee of the not-for-profit organisation Flying for Freedom, which, provides wounded and injured servicemen flying instruction on microlights, with the ultimate aim for them to fly an expedition to the South Pole.
Dr. Dominika Kunertova
Dr. Dominika Kunertova is an independent research scientist specialising in military applications of emerging technologies, international security, and transatlantic defence cooperation. A former NATO international staffer, Dr. Kunertova recently served as a Senior Researcher at ETH Zurich, where she worked on uncrewed systems in the context of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Her ongoing research on drone warfare, autonomy, and artificial intelligence received grant awards from the NATO Science for Peace and Security and NATO Chief Scientist programmes.She has published her academic research and public affairs commentary in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Contemporary Security Policy, Defence Studies, the Naval War College Review, RUSI Newsbrief, and more. Dr. Kunertova is also a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and an affiliate researcher at the Peace Research Center Prague. Originally from Slovakia, she holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Université de Montréal.
Keith Dear
Dr. Keith Dear is the CEO & Founder of AI strategy start-up Cassi and previously served as an Expert Adviser to the Prime Minister on Science, Technology, Space, and Modernising Defence. A former Intelligence Officer in the RAF, he has operational experience in Iraq, three deployments to Afghanistan, and deployments to Abkhazia (Georgia) with the United Nations and Mali alongside the French. He also served as the Russian Air Force SME on exchange with the US Air Force and continues his service as a Group Captain with 601 (Reserve) Squadron, leading on science, technology, and academic liaison.Prior to his current role, Keith spent three years at Fujitsu, developing, launching and leading the £22M Centre for Cognitive Technologies. As part of this, he worked extensively on UK-Japan strategic technology collaboration at the highest levels of government and the private sectors of both countries. Keith holds a Doctorate in Experimental Psychology from the University of Oxford, an Executive MBA from the University of Cambridge, and an MA from King’s College London.