In this image released by the Department of Defense, an MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle from the 42nd Attack Squadron.
The U.S. military is set to unsheath a new weapon against pirates – unmanned drones outfitted with cameras and sensors.
According to Time magazine, about 75 members of the U.S. military will support the mission in the Seychelles islands off the coast of Africa.
It wasn’t immediately clear how many Reaper drones will be dedicated to the effort, which is expected to begin next month and continue for several months.
The drones are capable of carrying missiles and bombs, but they’re not going to be armed. Officials said the objective in countering piracy is to board ships and capture the pirates, instead of blowing them up.
The majority of hijackings on the seas have occurred along the Somali coast – more than 130 this year. Monsoon season has caused a lull in the number of attacks, but officials fear a spike as the weather calms.
