Lethal Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Democratizing Air Power
Abstract
The United States has dominated the skies in every conflict since World War Two but with the exploding proliferation of low-cost lethal UAS, operational commanders will no longer be able to assume the air domain is secure - they will have to deliberately contest it. What makes this new trend so disruptive in terms of operational planning and employment is that UAS are (comparatively) inexpensive to acquire and simple to operate. A modest military power can field dozens or even hundreds of combat UAS. Small and medium-sized lethal UAS have arisen as low-cost, combat-proven alternatives to traditional strike aircraft. UAS are proving inherently difficult to detect via sensors designed against traditional aircraft, and will require dedicated solutions to counter the. These weapons systems are redefining and democratizing airpower, fusing multiple joint functions into single tactical platforms that can be operated by a small team with limited training. In any future conflict, the U.S. should expect to face an increasingly-mature array of multi-mission UAS of all sizes and varieties. The JFACC will share airspace with the enemy once again, something that hasnt happened in any real sense since the first night of Desert Storm.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 13, 2022
- Accession Number
- AD1174712
Entities
People
- Thomas J Kutz
Organizations
- Naval War College