Australia wants navy boats with lots of weapons, but no crew. Will they run afoul of international law?

  • Written by: Simon McKenzie, Lecturer in Law, Griffith University
Australia wants navy boats with lots of weapons, but no crew. Will they run afoul of international law?Pierson Hawkins / US Navy

The Australian Navy is set to be transformed. On top of existing plans for nuclear submarines, the government yesterday announced a scheme for an “enhanced lethality surface combatant fleet” including six new “optionally crewed” vessels.

The advantages of these vessels, which can operate with or...

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