Overview

UCAS may eventually be capable of the full gamut of air missions, including ISTAR, Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR), perhaps even autonomous AAR from one UCAV to another, Strike Control and Reconnaissance, Close Air Support, SEAD, interdiction, EA and conceivably control of the air in its entirety, including Defensive Counter Air (DCA) and Offensive Counter Air (OCA) missions.1 One of the greatest advantages UCAS can have is a small Radar Cross Section (RCS), if Low Observable (LO) technology is used.2 UCAS could have long endurance, enabling persistence and availability, and with no aircrew allowing operations in a toxic environment. Mitigating the effects on aircrew may be a partial driver, but it is the potential reduction in procurement and life cycle costs, and the capability to persist on task for periods currently not capable by manned fighter aircraft, that will be the main reasons for their usage. Human endurance has historically limited fighter sortie duration to approximately 10 hours.3 A report from the US DoD’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency states: ‘a UCAV weapon system has the potential to fully exploit the emerging information revolution and provide advanced airpower with increased tactical deterrence at a fraction of the total life cycle costs of current manned systems’.4