Posted on 08/17/2005 4:12:38 PM PDT by SandRat
WASHINGTON, Aug. 17, 2005 – Once used only for remote reconnaissance, unmanned aircraft technology has rapidly evolved in recent years. Such systems now feature strike capabilities and are being used for force-protection and signals-collection missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Unmanned aerial systems "have helped reduce the complexity and time lag in the 'sensor-to-shooter chain' for acting on 'actionable intelligence,'" according to a document released earlier this month.
The Unmanned Aircraft Systems Roadmap 2005-2030, released Aug. 4 with more than 200 pages, explains these diverse systems range from "micro air vehicles, weighing less than a pound, to massive aircraft weighing more than 40,000 (pounds), and vary in cost from a few thousand dollars to tens of millions."
The roadmap, now in its third iteration, lays out technology goals for developing unmanned systems over the next 25 years, explained Dyke Weatherington, deputy director of DoD's Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Planning Task Force.
Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon, Weatherington explained that even the name of the roadmap has changed from previous iterations. "Unmanned aerial vehicle," generally referred to as UAV, has been the most commonly accepted term for such aircraft. DoD planners have recently changed that terminology to "unmanned aircraft system."
UAS better denotes that much more than just the vehicle is needed to make such systems useful to warfighters. "A UAV by itself doesn't do anything for anybody other than sit on the ramp and provide shade," Weatherington said. "I need an integrated capability to do the mission. ... That's a vehicle; that's sensor systems; that may be weapons; that's communication systems; that's command and control; that's trained operators. All those elements are critical to deliver the capability."
Unmanned systems are particularly well-suited for "information, surveillance and reconnaissance" missions at the tactical level, Weatherington said. Specific useful capabilities of such systems include full-motion video and "persistence" -- they can stay in an area observing a developing situation for extended lengths of time.
He said "well-over" 1,000 small, unmanned systems are currently in use in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The top technology goal in the roadmap is to develop the Joint Unmanned Combat Air System, to provide a key capability predominantly delivered by manned aircraft in operations today.
"Primarily, for mobile, dynamic targets, the solution today is to send manned tactical aircraft in to find, (identify) and destroy those," Weatherington said.
Manned aircrews aren't the ideal choice for these missions because they put aircrews at risk, he said.
Smaller unmanned systems are "somewhat disposable," Weatherington said. "We don't intend to dispose of them. But ... if you need to put them in a situation to save a life, and you end up leaving the aircraft, it's not a significant loss."
UAV Ping
Revelation 13:4b
"Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?"
Hi,
Please allow me to ask- don't you think posting sensitive information such as this is not really a good idea?
This is how US technology gets copied by 3rd world anti-american countries/Islamic terrorists.
USA has already lost a lot of its technological innovations/secrets to anti-american interests. I think considering this fact, it may be better to not post Technological Roadmaps or any such salient information on public boards. It is just my thought. Please take no offense.
I used to be pretty good with computer flight simulators. Even made General in Microsoft's online Fighter Ace.
It's already available on a public site that anyone can access.
The Army/USMC UAV Flight Training School is at Fort Huachuca and almost all of the instructors are civilians. Contact them and see.
"Please allow me to ask- don't you think posting sensitive information such as this is not really a good idea?"
The freeper did no wrong since it was already public. But I do thing our government puts too much out. Too much bragging.
Hi SandRat,Here's a bump.
True indeed. I just cannot understand why the government has to publicize such a sensitive and important document. This is how China, India, Pakistan, Russia etc countries vigourously steal our information. It seems we will never ever ever learn from the past lessons.
Another good example is NIST. There is a boat load of information, for example, on the cutting edge Encryption/Decryption techniques used by USA in various technologically security-critical areas. Why do we have to allow the whole world freely access, plagiarize and download such important information from these government websites? It is suicidal and nothing but pure idiosyncracy.
It may mean nothing to them, but we need to write to these people who exhibit such foolishness by publishing sensitive information to let them know it will in no way benefit to allow non-US peoples to allow access to our Roadmaps and technological innovations that are deemed sensitive.
This is how our technologies get plagiarized by China,Russia,India,Pakistan and a ton of other countries out there plus our ROP terrorists.
I am not American, but I think it is better to segregate Foreign scientists/engineers so they do not have access or have a limited amount of access to facilities such as NSA, NIST, DARPA projects etc. Just look at what happened on 9/11, those terrorists learned flight simulations in our own Flight simulation schools to eventually kill over 3000 people. When will we learn?
I'm already over enlistment age. But I think it's an interesting concept. Let the old guys fly the remotes, save the young guys for the real thing.
Ping till I get on a faster connection.
WOOHOOO!!! Ping a ling
BTTT!!!!!!!
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