Uninhabited Combat Aerial Vehicles: Airpower by the People, for the People, But Not With the People

Abstract

This study examines the obstacles that uninhabited combat aerial vehicles (UCAV) will face in achieving significant operational capability and discusses whether or not they can be overcome. The author starts out by tracing the evolution of UCAVs starting before the first manned flight and ending in the late l97Os when the Air Force abandoned all efforts in UCAV development. The study also describes the obstacles that prevented UCAVs from becoming operational in the past. Next, the writer explains how the UCAV reappeared in Air Force research and development efforts in the 199Os, and explains whether the same obstacles of the past will be obstacles in the future. The study concludes with a description of the obstacles that UCAVs will likely face and recommends solutions to help overcome them.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1999
Accession Number
ADA391692

Entities

People

  • Richard M. Clark

Organizations

  • Air University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Autonomy

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerial Warfare
  • Air Force
  • Aircraft Equipment
  • Aircraft Industry
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Control Systems
  • Fighter Aircraft
  • Military Applications
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • Precision-Guided Munitions
  • Remotely Piloted Vehicles
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  • Weapons Effects

Readers

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