Unmanned & Dangerous: The World of Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles

摘要

The next generation of unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAVs) is gradually coming into public view not only in the US, but also in Europe, China and-Russia. Combat Aircaraft examines the challenges of a paradigm shift in air warfare, and outlines the key platforms. TODAYI COULDN'T put [a Predator or Reaper] into the Strait of Hormuz without having to put airplanes there to protect it', says Gen Mike Hostage, commander of the US Air Force's Air Combat Command, when discussing the ability of either remotely-piloted vehicle to operate in contested airspace. And, of course, he's right. These aircraft were not designed to fly in anything but benign airspace, and while both have proven to be highly effective platforms in the air over Afghanistan and Pakistan, their ability to operate in areas where a 'welcome' sign has not been posted remains extremely limited. For both military and civilian policy experts there are innumerable questions to be answered before UCAVs can take their place alongside manned aircraft in combat. Such questions will have a direct bearing not only on how the US, and eventually all nations, fight future conflicts, but also on the very nature of warfare itself. What we're seeing is a true revolution in military affairs, argues Peter Singer, director of the Center for 21st Century Security and Intelligence at the Brookings Institute, in his best-selling book 'Wired for War': 'The introduction of unmanned systems to the battlefield doesn't change simply how we fight, but for the first time changes who fights at the most fundamental level. It transforms the very agent of war, rather than just its capabilities.'