Special Operations Forces and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Sooner or Later?

Abstract

This study analyzes whether Special Operations Forces should use Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to support intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, communications and re-supply capability deficiencies. The author's objective is to review the missions and requirements of the United States Special Operations Command, examine current and future unmanned aerial vehicle technologies, and analyze whether unmanned aircraft technologies are mature enough to meet the demanding Special Operations missions. The result of the analysis is that unmanned aerial vehicles have tremendous potential. But, due to technological limitations and a lack of systems maturity, unmanned aerial vehicles lack the range, reliability, datalink capability, and size to meet Special Operations Forces needs at this time. However, in the future, UAVs should be able to fulfill several SOF capability deficiencies.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1995
Accession Number
ADA391264

Entities

People

  • Stephen P. Howard

Organizations

  • Air University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Autonomy
  • Biomedical
  • Sensors
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Aircraft Equipment
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Combat Areas
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Control Systems
  • Employment
  • Fixed Wing Aircraft
  • Ground Control Stations
  • Military Organizations
  • Personnel Management
  • Psychological Operations
  • Surveillance
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  • Unmanned Systems
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Aerial Unmanned Vehicle Swarm Micro Periodontal Dentistry.
  • Irregular Warfare and Special Operations Cyberspace Operations against Adversarial Threats.
  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy
  • Autonomy - UAVs