RIYADH: The Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) held on Thursday in its headquarter in Riyadh, a lecture titled “Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)” presented by Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich, director of operations at the US Central Command, in the presence of Maj. Gen. Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Moghedi, acting secretary-general of IMCTC, representatives of members states, and IMCTC employees.
Al-Moghedi said that this lecture is part of the joint cooperation between IMCTC and the US, as a supporting state, to fight terrorism in all its forms, fields, and instruments.
Grynkewich pointed out that UAVs are a source of threat to the national security of many countries because of their widespread, low cost, ease of manufacture, and extent of damage that they cause, noting that many countries manufacture UAVs, in addition to commercial enterprises that manufacture and sell them for commercial uses.
He added that the danger of UAVs is due to the possibility of shifting their usage from commercial and civil to military ends, especially by terrorist groups.
He noted that many countries and governments not only produce this technology, but also export it and provide its clients in other countries with it, for disruptive purposes.
He concluded his lecture by saying that protection against UAV attacks lies in their early detection in their storing and launching places before using them, stressing the importance of accurate collaboration and coordination between coalition countries, and of spreading awareness regarding the danger of UAVs and the necessity of preemptive measures before this threat escalates.
In addition, he stressed the importance of exchanging military expertise and intelligence, and the need for monitoring and controlling the production of UAVs in order to prevent them from falling into the terrorists’ hands.
