NEW CLOSE AIR SUPPORT WEAPON IBD

Sinopsis

This study investigates the viability of employing unmanned aerial vehicles in the close air support role on the future battlefield of 2010 and beyond. The concept of employing unmanned aerial vehicles in a strike role is currently in the advanced technology demonstration phase of design. Budgetary constraints, aircraft shortfalls, and theater commander-in-chief (CINC) requirements have combined to form an impetus for accelerated research in unmanned aircraft capabilities, and refocused DoD on fiscally conservative methods to ensure national defense and equip military forces for war. This study evaluates the historical and doctrinal underpinnings of unmanned aerial vehicles and the close air support infrastructure to establish a basis for compatibility. Enhanced UAV technology and accelerated information technology advances combine to form an information architecture robust enough to handle unmanned aircraft in a strike role. Future employment of UAVs in a strike role is possible technologically by 2010, however doctrine and military will lag while USAF leaders grapple with the proper unmanned-manned force. The unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) technology, time critical targeting infrastructure, and refined joint doctrine combined synergistically with military will offer the theater CINC one more combat multiplier. Prudent strategic planning for research, design, development and employment of unmanned aerial vehicles will keep the U.S. military prepared to fight any conflict, any time, any place.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.