ScanEagle is a relatively low-cost robot aircraft at $100,000 a copy - but then, it was originally designed to find tuna schools not terrorists. The U.S. Marine Corps is currently using an upgraded version of the aircraft in Iraq, where its performance in Fallujah and along the Syrian border has drawn interest from other services, including a recent $14.5 million contract from the U.S. Navy. I liked the Marines' improved contracting/R&D process, too.
The ScanEagle is described as a "launch-and-forget" system, guiding itself by GPS to an specific area and loitering in a designated area of interest until it's time to come home. Its upgraded electro-optical or infared cameras have enough definition to identify individuals and show if they are carrying weapons, then provide specific targeting coordinates via the Global Positioning System; the aircraft will fly autonomously, and stays airborne for 10-15 hours.
As the next generation of GPS-guided smart weapons comes on line over the next 5 years (Excalibur artillery shell, PGK artillery shell add-on, GPS-guided MLRS rockets, and the Small Diameter Smart Bomb), the combination becomes extremely formidable. It's a good illustration of the fact that when we speak of "military transformation," it's not just a matter of buying major weapons systems but a whole host of interlocking innovations, capabilities, and matching doctrine. Some of which cannot be predicted in advance.
Man, I want one..
Ohhhh boy. This has the makings for re-writing the rules of urban combat.
Joe,
I interviewed a former Commander of TOPGUN for a defense job and he said he believes that lst fighter pilot has already been born. That was a wow statement coming from someone with a lot invested in that mystique.
Cordially,
Uncle J
The last fighter pilot (who actually sits in the plane) has already been born... a wow statement, all right.
Personally, I'm not so sure. But it sure is an interesting anecdote.
I think it's likely. We've nearly got reliable self-controlled GROUND robots now, capable of processing video feed from their "eyes", moving around obstacles etc. The equivalent in the air is much much easier.
The issue is twofold. First, to know what the evolving threat will be, as that determines the degree of technical challenge and determines whether the first pilotless planes will be remote controlled or autonomous. And second, to work the legal issues and doctrine around their use.
Neither is insurmountable in 2 1/2 decades.
I have been having a long discussion with another blogger about the nature of coming UAV's that resulted in this post
I think he is missing the increasing endurance and automation and dropping cost in the small UAV catagory as well as the fact that limited to company level UAV support infrastructure assumes a reusable UAV paradigm rather than disposable ammunition one.
Disposable Micro-UAVs are going to be the information warfare "law rocket" in every landwarrior suit equipped infantry squad inside of 10 years.