Unmanned Aerial Vehicles - Revolutionary Tools in War and Peace
Abstract
The unmanned aerial vehicle's (UAV) operational impact is growing as compared to manned weapon systems. Historical evolution of the UAV has been marked by a series of inconsistent periods of technological development followed by stagnation. It was not until Vietnam that the UAV had a measurable impact on military operations. However, following the technological progress spurred on by the Vietnam War, the UAV was again forsaken by military leadership. Tremendously successful employment of UAVs by the Israel is, combined with the changing nature of warfare, once again evoked interest from the United States in UAV development and employment. Finally, UAVs emerged from the shadow of manned aircraft in the mid-1990s, and became an integral weapon in the global war on terror. This paper will examine the future doctrinal, organizational, and operational effects of the UAV across the Department of Defense. The examination will include: (I) an overview of the background and historical development of UAVs and the concept of the revolution in military affairs"; (2) a review of current major DoD UAV systems and operational concepts; (3) an analysis of the strategic impact of UAV systems, assessing whether the UAV can be considered a revolutionary instrument for the military services.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 30, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA469608
Entities
People
- Richard P. Schwing
Organizations
- United States Army War College