Course on Ethics in Military Aerial Autonomy
300-hour online course on ethics in military aerial autonomy. 6 modules covering the Harvard Manual on International Law Applicable to Air and Missile Warfare (HPCR, 2009), Additional Protocol I (1977) and MATLAB/Simulink. Assigned tutor and enrolment open.
Course on Ethics in Military Aerial Autonomy — studying from Canada
Canada's defence sector is centred on procurement and sustainment through the Department of National Defence and Defence Research and Development Canada. Industrial activity spans land vehicles, naval systems, avionics and electronics, with firms in Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia and British Columbia. Companies such as General Dynamics Land Systems Canada and Lockheed Martin Canada are notable employers, alongside a broad base of small and medium suppliers. Engineers work on systems integration, vehicle protection, logistics and sustainment, operating within strict security and export control frameworks.
Fees for Canada: C$1,010 (Canadian dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Canada
Typical roles
Questions from Canada
Which Canadian bodies or processes govern defence engineering recognition?
Defence engineering in Canada often involves government procurement and security clearances, and engineers typically hold provincial Professional Engineer licences where a title is required. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not official state degrees or accredited by a national body, so they do not confer licensing or clearance. Recognition is for employers or the relevant body to decide, so verify this first.
Would Canadian defence or land systems employers accept this training?
Canadian defence employers and contractors generally rely on security clearance, licensing and demonstrated experience. A private qualification may support your application, but it is unlikely to replace those requirements, and its acceptance is up to each employer. A SEIUM final project can help show applied skill, so discuss expectations with prospective employers early.
Can I study remotely while working, and what are the costs and language demands?
Yes, the programmes are fully online, so you can study from Canada or elsewhere without a student visa, and fit sessions around work. Specialist courses are 300 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 and master's 1,900. Teaching is in English, supported by an assigned technical tutor. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be available.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Describe the degree of autonomy of current air systems.
Identify the ethical issues specific to the air domain.
Apply air and humanitarian law to autonomy.
Analyse the certification and trust challenges in systems with AI.
Evaluate institutional governance models.
Integrate ethical criteria into the development of air systems.
Produce an ethical analysis of a case of aerial autonomy.
Who it's for
- Aviation ethics analyst who wants to specialise in Ethics in Military Aerial Autonomy.
- Certification engineer for autonomous systems who wants to specialise in Ethics in Military Aerial Autonomy.
- Aeronautical legal adviser who wants to specialise in Ethics in Military Aerial Autonomy.
- Human factors researcher who wants to specialise in Ethics in Military Aerial Autonomy.
- Defence policy analyst who wants to specialise in Ethics in Military Aerial Autonomy.
- University lecturer in aerospace engineering who wants to specialise in Ethics in Military Aerial Autonomy.
- Graduates in engineering or science seeking to enter the aeronautical industry.
What you'll work with
- Harvard Manual on International Law Applicable to Air and Missile Warfare (HPCR, 2009)
- Additional Protocol I (1977)
- Chicago Convention (1944)
- US DoD Directive 3000.09 (2023)
- MIL-HDBK-516C (airworthiness criteria)
- EASA concept paper on AI in aviation
- NATO Principles of Responsible Use of AI (2021)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Evolution from autopilot to autonomy1.2Collaborative combat aircraft1.3The loyal wingman concept1.4FCAS and GCAP programmes1.5Automated air defence and reaction times1.6Missile defence systems and automatic mode1.7Autonomous refuelling and air logistics1.8High-endurance surveillance aircraft1.9Airspace management with autonomous aircraft1.10Case study: analysis of the 2003 Patriot incidents
2.1Speed of decision and human control2.2Delegation of decisions in the chain of command2.3Physical and moral distance of the pilot2.4Risk to the pilot versus risk to civilians2.5Human-machine teaming in the cockpit2.6Automation bias in crews2.7Risk of escalation in air engagements2.8Virtue ethics of the military aviator2.9Testimonies from pilots and remote operators2.10Workshop: dilemmas in an air defence scenario
3.1The 1923 Hague Rules on Air Warfare3.2Harvard Manual on Air and Missile Warfare3.3Protocol I and attacks from the air3.4Precautions in bombing and incidental damage3.5Civil aviation and the Chicago Convention3.6Shooting down civil aircraft: MH17 and PS752 cases3.7Weapons review under Article 363.8CCW debate on autonomy3.9NATO air doctrine3.10Practice: legal analysis of the PS752 case
4.1Airworthiness of autonomous systems4.2EASA guidance on machine learning4.3Verification of AI functions in flight4.4Simulation and flight testing4.5Runtime monitors4.6Explainability for the crew4.7Aviation cybersecurity4.8Flight logs and traceability of decisions4.9Calibration of trust4.10Laboratory: evaluation of a decision-support assistant in a simulator
5.1NATO ethical principles for AI5.2AI strategies of defence ministries5.3Military ethics committees5.4Ethics training for pilots and operators5.5Transparency before parliaments and society5.6University research and collaboration with defence5.7Export control of autonomous air technologies5.8European cooperation and industry5.9Proposals for international confidence-building measures5.10Case study: designing an ethics review committee
6.1Selection of the autonomous air system6.2Concept of operations6.3Autonomous functions and degree of control6.4Ethical analysis of scenarios6.5Applicable legal analysis6.6Certification and trust requirements6.7Governance recommendations6.8Monitoring plan6.9Report and presentation6.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Fully 100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine the course with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MATLAB/Simulink, Zotero, NVivo, Python, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Assessments are based on real procedures: analysis of historical air incident cases, an ethics evaluation workshop, and review of certification criteria. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrative project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Describe the degree of autonomy of current air systems.
Identify the ethical issues specific to the air domain.
Apply air and humanitarian law to autonomy.
Analyse the certification and trust challenges in systems with AI.
Evaluate institutional governance models.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior qualification required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient English to follow technical regulatory texts.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme is 300 hours in total, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours a week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
You work with MATLAB/Simulink, Zotero, NVivo, Python. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
SEIUM's own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrative project. It is in-house training, not an official Ministry qualification.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised towards the advanced programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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