It is a great privilege to address you today on the pivotal topic of Unmanned Maritime Systems and the evolving legal frameworks that govern their operation. However, before getting into my topic I would like to thank Pakistan Navy and National Institute of Maritime Affairs (NIMA) for their great hospitality. Esteemed guests, militaries worldwide are increasingly deploying autonomous or semi-autonomous platforms for missions ranging from surveillance to strike operations. Unsurprisingly, the intersection of these technologies with established concepts in maritime law has generated pressing legal and operational questions. I wish to highlight how international maritime law—particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)—addresses the notion of having a crew physically on board a vessel. 

Let’s have a quick look into the technological and military background of the developments from Traditional Naval Operations to Unmanned Platforms. Initially, unmanned maritime systems were mostly relegated to non-complex tasks such as target training or basic exploration activities. However, with rapid technological progress, these platforms now undertake anti-surface warfare, mine countermeasures, area denial, and even limited strike missions. Key advantages of unmanned systems include Risk Reduction and Cost-Effectiveness.