An unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) or "combat drone" is an experimental class of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAVs). They differ from ordinary UAVs, because they are designed to deliver weapons (attack targets) – possibly with a great degree of autonomy. The elimination of the need for an onboard human crew in a combat aircraft that may be shot down over enemy territory has obvious advantages for personnel safety. In addition, much equipment necessary for a human pilot (such as the cockpit, seat, flight controls, oxygen, ejection seat, etc.) can be omitted from an unmanned vehicle, resulting in a decrease in weight possibly allowing greater payloads, range and maneuverability.
Current UCAV concepts call for an aircraft which would be able to operate autonomously. It will be programmed with route and target details, and conduct the mission without help from human controllers.
Contents |
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 place a burden upon participants to limit collateral damage through proper identification of targets and distinction between combatants and non-combatants. The use of completely autonomous weapon systems is problematic, however, because of the difficulty in assigning accountability to a person. Therefore, 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 he is a civilian and not a member of the military (which is quite possible with developmental and highly sophisticated weapons systems) he would be considered a combatant under international law 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 understands and accepts his role as combatant. [1]
On 28 October 2009, United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Philip Alston, presented a report to the Third Committee (social, humanitarian and cultural) of the General Assembly warning that the use of Unmanned combat air vehicles for targeted killings will be regarded as a breach of international law unless the United States can demonstrate appropriate precautions and accountability mechanisms are in place.[2]
Current concepts
- Northrop Grumman, X-47 (TD)
- Alenia Aeronautica, Sky-x (TD)
- BAE Systems Taranis stealth UCAV (TD)
- Dassault nEUROn stealth UCAV (TD)
- SAGEM Sperwer UCAV (see below)
- Denel Aerospace Systems : UCAV-TD such as Bateleur (TD)
- EADS Germany & EADS Spain, EADS Barracuda stealth UAV/UCAV (TD)
- Elbit Systems Hermes 450 (see below)
- Israel Aircraft Industries, Eitan
- MiG Skat [3]
- Various Chinese UCAV concepts have also materialized, WZ-2000, UCAV versions of the Xianglong high altitude, long endurance UAV. Also, dedicated UCAV's Shenyang's Dark Sword (Anjian), and also revealed at Zhuhai 2008 was a model of a stealth strike UCAV with forward swept wings, filling a similar niche to US X-45 called the Warrior Eagle.
- General Atomics Avenger – long-endurance UCAV, surveillance/reconnaissance/attack, low-observables, first flight 4 April 2009.
Note: Some of these are not aircraft prototypes but technology demonstrators (TD) that are not expected to enter service.
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.
USAF Hunter-Killer
- Scaled Composites Model 395
- Scaled Composites Model 396
- General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper (originally the Predator B)
- 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.
Sagem Sperwer
The Sagem Sperwer B is a long endurance tactical UAV. The Sperwer can carry two Rafael-made Spike LR missiles for 12 hours (can be extended to 20) with a range of 200 km.[citation needed] All ground facilities of the Sperwer SDT (used by France, Netherlands, Sweden, Greece, Canada and Denmark) are compatible with the Sperwer B.
Elbit Hermes 450
The Israeli Air Force, which operates a squadron of Hermes 450s out of Palmachim Airbase south of Tel Aviv, has adapted the Hermes 450 for use as an assault UAV, reportedly equipping it with two Hellfire missiles or, according to various sources, two Rafael-made missiles. According to Israeli, Palestinian, Lebanese and independent reports, the Israeli assault UAV has seen extensive service in the Gaza Strip and was used intensively in the Second Lebanon War. Israel has not denied this capability, but to date, its policy has been not to officially confirm it either.
BAE Taranis
Taranis is a British demonstrator programme for unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) technology. It is part of the UK's Strategic Unmanned Air Vehicle (Experimental) programme (SUAV[E]). BAE describes Taranis's role in this context as following: "This £124m four year programme is part of the UK Government’s Strategic Unmanned Air Vehicle Experiment (SUAVE) and will result in a UCAV demonstrator with fully integrated autonomous systems and low observable features." The Taranis demonstrator will have an MTOW of about 8000 kilograms and be of a similar size to the BAE Hawk- making it one of the world's largest UAVs - that will be stealthy, fast and be able to deploy a range of munitions over a number of targets and be able to defend itself against manned and other unmanned enemy aircraft. The first steel was cut in September 2007 and ground testing will start in early 2009. The first flight of the Taranis is planned for the first quarter of 2010. The demonstrator will have two internal weapons bays. With the inclusion of "full autonomy" the intention is thus for this platform to be able to "think for itself" for a large part of the mission.
See also
- History of unmanned aerial vehicles
- History of Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles
- UXV Combatant - a proposal for a ship dedicated to UCAVs
- List of unmanned aerial vehicles
References
External links
- Wired for War: The Future of Military Robots by Peter W. Singer
- Current UCAC concepts
- Current Unmanned Vehicles and Systems
- Article on Sperwer system
- Joint Unmanned Combat Air System (J-UCAS)
- Saab UAV/UCAV info page
- Unmanned Aerial Systems, Mini UAV
- UCAVs - Panacea or Pipe Dream?
- Chinese UCAV-converted J-5,J-6,J-7
- Israel sets combat drones against missile launchers in Gaza, World Tribune, May 8, 2007
- Israel Starts Reexamining Military Missions and Technology, Aviation Week, August 20, 2006
- UAVs and UCAVs: developments in the European Union A briefing paper for the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Security and Defence.
|
||||||||||||||
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
