Evolution of Unmanned Aerial Warfare: A Historical Look at Remote Airpower - A Case Study in Innovation

Abstract

American unmanned aircraft interest has exploded in popularity and as a divisive issue in recent years. The history of these systems is not widely known, especially their use prior to the war in Afghanistan and Iraq. This thesis seeks to examine how unmanned aircraft were used in pre-21st century conflicts and the missed opportunities in development that emerged due to budgetary constraints, leadership personalities, and technological hindrances. This paper looks at balloon warfare, the Kettering Bug during World War I, the birth of "drones" during the interwar years and the OQ-2 Radio plane and remote controlled B-17s during World War II. The thesis further looks at the use of the Firebee during the Cold War and the use of the Lightning Bug during Vietnam. Ultimately, the analysis shows how development of unmanned aircraft is a cautionary tale to continue research and development while being prepared for cultural shifts the technological era presents.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 10, 2016
Accession Number
AD1020384

Entities

People

  • Bishane A. Whitmore

Organizations

  • United States Army Command and General Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

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

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerial Warfare
  • Air Force
  • Aircraft Equipment
  • Aircraft Industry
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Cognitive Systems Engineering
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Control Systems
  • Ground Control Stations
  • Military History
  • Military Science
  • Unmanned Aerial Systems
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  • Unmanned Systems
  • Warfare
  • Weapons Effects

Readers

  • Aerial Unmanned Vehicle Swarm Micro Periodontal Dentistry.
  • Educational Psychology
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy