Expendable Remotely Piloted Vehicles for Strategic Offensive ...

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experience a scene looking out from within a cockpit. Instead, the individualwould experience an unobstructed wide-ranging view, only limited by therange of the vehicle’s sensors. “Looking down” and visualizing the groundpass beneath him/her, the operator could experience a sense of flyinglike a bird (as opposed to a pilot). This study explores cybornautics for usein airpower vehicles; however, it could have applications for controllingland-, sea-, and space-based systems as well. From this concept, the authorconceived the word cybornaut.Cybornaut. The human controller who is linked to an RPV via cybornautics.A comparison with the term cyborg may be helpful in understandingthis concept. Webster’s dictionary defines a cyborg as “a humanbeing who is linked (as for temporary adaptation to a hostile space environment)to one or more mechanical devices upon which some of his vitalphysiological functions depend” (emphasis added). 9 A cybornaut is ahuman being cybernetically data-linked to an RPV; the human is requiredto perform vital control and decision functions for the machine.The main assumption of this study refers to its intended audience. Thesubject of aircraft without onboard pilots raises with it a significant measureof controversy and emotion. During this study’s research process, theauthor engaged in constructive and thought-provoking discussions withfaculty and fellow students of the School of Advanced Airpower Studies. Itis noteworthy that each individual expressed a definite opinion of UAVs.Because this should be expected from those dedicated to the study of airpower,it highlighted possible preconceptions on the part of the reader.The author assumes that the readers will likewise possess a great interestand a high degree of knowledge on the subject of airpower. Regardlessof initial impressions on unmanned aircraft—even the most critical—theauthor asks that an open-minded approach be taken when evaluating thissubject. 10To demonstrate assertions on expendable RPVs for strategic attack, theauthor has organized this study into six chapters. This introductory chapterpresents the major theme and background of the research.Chapter 2 addresses the question: What is the history and backgroundof UAVs? Unmanned aircraft are a unique form of airpower. They presentvarious advantages and capabilities, as well as disadvantages and limitations,deserving study and comparison with other airpower means. Thischapter presents a chronological series of key events, as well as the majordifficulties encountered by developers of UAVs.Chapter 3 examines the question: Why focus on strategic offensive airpowerroles for RPVs? Airpower’s inherent attributes—such as speed,range, and ubiquity—make it very well suited to reach and strike anenemy’s vital sources of power. Airpower is the dominant form of strategicoffensive power. 11 This chapter shows how the RPV can play a strategic offensivewarfare role by building upon the foundation provided by the previouschapter.5
Chapter 4 answers the question: Why limit the study of strategic attackRPVs to expendable means? Critical to the thesis are the values advancedsocieties place on pilots and aircrews, as well as the values associatedwith the aircraft they operate and support. Other influences are the manyfactors associated with ensuring aircraft are survivable and recoverable.In an attempt to overcome or bypass these limiting factors, this chapterexplores expendability versus recovery for an RPV intended for strategicoffensive airpower roles.Chapter 5 presents a notional scenario involving expendable strategicattack RPVs. This scenario outlines one conceptual application stemmingfrom the author’s theoretical vision into the future. A wide variety of expendableRPV design options are possible, and the author hopes that thischapter will foster the search for new and innovative airpower ideas,whether they involve UAVs or not.Chapter 6 reviews the major conclusions resulting from this researchstudy. First, the author addresses reasons for limited UAV development.Second, he assesses the pros and cons regarding RPVs in strategic attackroles. The third evaluation area reveals the advantages and disadvantagesof expendability as a design option for RPVs. Fourth, the author providesan overall assessment on the concept of an expendable RPV for strategicoffensive airpower roles.Notes1. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) refer to the broader category of aircraft without humanson board; remotely piloted vehicles (RPV) are a subset of UAVs.2. Lt Col Dana A. Longino, Role of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Future Armed ConflictScenarios (Maxwell Air Force Base [AFB], Ala.: Air University Press, 1994), xi. This is acommon caveat among UAV documents. Some authors present it to appease critics ofUAVs.3. Maj Jeffrey N. Renehan, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Weapons of Mass Destruction:A Lethal Combination? (Maxwell AFB, Ala.: Air University Press, 1997). It is feasible thatthe conceptual RPV presented in this study could carry weapons of mass destruction;however, one could write a separate dissertation on this subject. This study highlightsplatform characteristics and limits discussion to more conventional (including nonlethal)payload types.4. Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary (Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster Inc.,1990), 1165.5. Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Armitage, Unmanned Aircraft (London: Brassey’s DefencePublishers, 1988), xi. This is a tailored portion of a figure illustrating “bodies travelingin air.” The author acknowledges “ill-defined boundaries” regarding unmanned aircraft.6. Kenneth Munson, World Unmanned Aircraft (London: Jane’s Publishing CompanyLtd., 1988).7. Jay Womack and Arthur Steczkowski, “Review of Past and Current Trials and Usesof Unmanned Vehicles,” Report no. HSD-TR-87-011/United States (Dayton, Ohio: AirForce Systems Command, 1988).8. While this is the justification from the document that introduces these terms (1996New World Vistas study produced by the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board), it appears6
Page 1 and 2: Expendable Remotely PilotedVehicles
Page 3 and 4: ContentsChapterDISCLAIMER . . . . .
Page 5 and 6: AbstractThe future holds an acceler
Page 7 and 8: AcknowledgmentsI thank all the stud
Page 9 and 10: aircraft. Incorporating the added d
Page 11: UAVs were more easily defined when
Page 15 and 16: Chapter 2History and BackgroundWe h
Page 17 and 18: The Wright brothers are deservedly
Page 19 and 20: aerial bombs), the British took the
Page 21 and 22: UAVs during World War II to a few g
Page 23 and 24: On 27 October of that year, another
Page 25 and 26: United States to look beyond reconn
Page 27 and 28: ary 1996, Gen Ronald R. Fogleman, A
Page 29 and 30: 29. Shaker and Wise, 28.30. Michael
Page 31 and 32: Chapter 3Strategic Offensive Airpow
Page 33 and 34: ombs, as well as a high sortie rate
Page 35 and 36: It thus follows that future air cam
Page 37 and 38: possible for small formations to ac
Page 39 and 40: spite the successes, it is easily p
Page 41 and 42: The transmissions used by a control
Page 43 and 44: 33. Air Force Scientific Advisory B
Page 45 and 46: diverted 75 percent of its B-29s aw
Page 47 and 48: Table 6Remotely Piloted Vehicle Adv
Page 49 and 50: million dollars each. The unit flya
Page 51 and 52: Relative Ranks for Fewer Design Con
Page 53 and 54: mission) the open bomb bay doors si
Page 55 and 56: Relative Ranks for Flight Noise Are
Page 57 and 58: Owens also stated that the military
Page 59 and 60: All forms of manned and unmanned ai
Page 61 and 62: Relative Ranks for Reliability Area
Page 63 and 64:
KEY: ● Major Advantage Counterba
Page 65 and 66:
7. “Report: Military Crashes Down
Page 67 and 68:
62. McGonigle, 34.63. Ibid., 33.64.
Page 69 and 70:
expendable RPVs, American political
Page 71 and 72:
cybornaut activates engine thruster
Page 73 and 74:
Chapter 6ConclusionConstant evaluat
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one role. A countless combination o
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