Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle
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The Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) or "combat drones" is the name of a new class of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). They differ from ordinary UAVs, because they are designed to deliver weapons (attack targets) – possibly with a great degree of autonomy.
Current UCAV concepts call for an aircraft which would be able to operate virtually autonomously. It will be programmed with route and target details, and conduct the mission without help from human controllers.
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[edit] Laws of war
Most countries are bound to international Laws of war (such as the Geneva Conventions). These laws govern the conduct of participants in war (and also defines combatants). These laws places a burden upon participants to limit collateral damage through proper identification of targets and distinction between combatants and non-combatants. It is in this area where the use of completely autonomous weapon systems are problematic, since it is difficult to assign accountability to a person. It is for these reasons, that current designs still incorporate an element of human control (a "man in the loop") – meaning that a ground controller must authorize weapons release.
Concerns also include the human controller's role, because if they are a civilian and not a member of the military (which is quite possible with developmental and highly sophisticated weapons systems) they would be considered a combatant under international law with which carries a distinct set of responsibilities and consequences. It is for this reason that the "man in the loop" should ideally be a member of the military that understand and accepts their role as combatant.
[edit] Current concepts
Alenia Aeronautica Sky-X (TD)
Dassault nEUROn stealth UCAV (TD)
Denel Aerospace Systems UCAV-TD (TD)
Israel Aircraft Industries Eitan
Note: Some of these are not aircraft prototypes but technology demonstrators (TD) that are not expected to enter service.
The French Air Force is also expected to start fielding the Dassault Neuron by 2010.
The Israeli Air Force plans to procure a large long-range UCAV that resembles a fighter-jet. The Israeli UCAV, named Eitan, sports a wingspan of 26 meters and a takeoff weight of four tons. The state-owned Israel Aircraft Industries developed the Eitan. Eitan would be a multi-purpose UCAV with automatic takeoff and landing able to locate and destroy mobile ballistic missile launchers in reconnaissance and attack missions.
[edit] J-UCAS
Boeing X-45 UCAV (TD)- Northrop-Grumman X-47 Pegasus
The J-UCAS UCAV would use stealth technologies and carry precision-guided weapons such as the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) or precision miniature munitions, such as the Small-Diameter Bomb to suppress enemy air defenses.
Controllers could use real-time data sources, including satellites, to plan for and respond to changes on and around the battlefield.
[edit] USAF Hunter-Killer
- Scaled Composites Model 395
- Scaled Composites Model 396
- General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper
- Aurora Flight Sciences/Israel Aircraft Industries Eagle/Heron 2
- Unnamed Lockheed Martin entry
The United States Air Force has shifted its UCAV program from medium-range tactical strike aircraft to long-range strategic bombers.[1]. The technology of the Long Range Strike program is based on the Lockheed Martin Polecat demonstrator.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Joint Unmanned Combat Air System (J-UCAS)
- Dassault article on its UAV/UCAV programs
- Saab UAV/UCAV info page
- Unmanned Aerial Systems, Mini UAV
- UCAVs - Panacea or Pipe Dream?
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