Instantly Basing Locust Swarms: New Options for Future Air Operations

Abstract

This study explores the effects of airpower technologies and logistics on American airpower. It finds that future swarms of small, remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) might provide significant force-projection capabilities using global military and commercial logistics infrastructures. This conclusion results from an examination of air operations during the Vietnam War, Operations DESERT STORM and ENDURING FREEDOM, existing RPA research and development, and projected Department of Defense developmental milestones involving swarms of small RPAs. The thesis also proposes a concept of operations, designated Locust Swarm, and a new logistics construct, called Instant Basing, that exploit the future capabilities of small, unmanned aerial vehicles. Such concepts may provide national policymakers relatively low-cost, low-risk options for international crises requiring the rapid deployment of airpower.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2012
Accession Number
AD1019420

Entities

People

  • Jonathan E. Burdick

Organizations

  • Air University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Autonomy
  • C4I
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircraft Equipment
  • Aircraft Industry
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Commercial Aircraft
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Control Systems
  • Employment
  • Information Systems
  • Military History
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • Tanker Aircraft
  • Unmanned Aerial Systems
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Aerial Unmanned Vehicle Swarm Micro Periodontal Dentistry.
  • Aerospace logistics and air mobility.
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy
  • Autonomy - UAVs