An insidious changes in recent times in Military aviation has been the advent of Unmanned aircraft. Pilots sit at desks on one continent flying remote drones on another. These can and do launch missiles that can wreak enormous damage. The pilot then goes home to his dinner and watches TV or does his chores. There is the potential here to fundamentally change the nature of warefare with some very unpleasant consequences such as the further dehumanisation of the “target”.
Just imagine how easy it may become to make a decision to bomb a village in Afghanistan because the choice is seen as eliminating a risk to “our boys over there” with on the one hand the saving of noble souls fighting for freedom to be balanced against on the other hand the unavoidable collateral loss of some Ethnic non-combatants.
There is now a proliferating multitude of both big small and in between unmanned vehicles.
Maybe it is now time for some more general discussion of what is being done in our name on the battlefields of the world.
As an example of the capability now being offered consider the KillerBee® Unmanned Aircraft System offered by Ratheon.
The Killerbee is advertised as:
Provides affordable intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance for continuous battle space management.
The low-cost KillerBee® Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) is designed
to provide U.S. Navy and Marine Corps warfighters with a previously
unrealized solution for Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems
(STUAS)/Tier II. KillerBee provides continuous battle space intelligence,
surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capability, a 5,800 cubic-inch
payload capacity and rapidly delivers actionable intelligence to combat
commanders.
Design and Integration
With more than 100 sorties, 160 flight hours and a range of more than
100 miles, KillerBee provides the best-value solution for the U.S. Navy and
Marine Corps and uses accepted protocols and procedures. It integrates
into existing and future command and control systems, including
the Marine Air-Ground Task Force, Common Aviation Command
and Control System, Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System
(AFATDS), Tactical Command System and the Distributed Common
Ground Systems–Navy, Global Command and Control System–Navy
and Tactical Common Data Link.
Benefits
Large payload capacity
Small logistics footprint
Reduced sensor-to-shooter timeline
Seamless integration into command and
control systems
Naval Air Systems Command certification
imminent
a blended-wing body
design offers more than three times the
capacity of competing systems
while maintaining a high level of
performance and endurance in its
airframe design. The system has a
low operational cost per flight hour
and a small logistics footprint. A
modular payload design and line
replacement units for maintenance
ensure minimum turnaround
time and minimum maintenance
downtime. The launch and recovery
system can be set up or stowed in
15 minutes.
Modules and Performance
Integration of UAS operator and
support training into the Marine
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron
structure reduces the need for
manpower beyond the tactical unit.
Aviation logistics for KillerBee
and its payloads are provided by
capabilities within the Marine
Air Wing. A range of incremental
capability modules enhances
KillerBee performance, allowing
fast insertion into the airframe
with minimal effect on the pace of
flight operations. Modules include
a laser designator, communications
and data relay, electronic warfare,
electronic intelligence, passive radio
frequency sensors and hyperspectral
imaging.
KillerBee UAS supports a wide
range of STUAS/Tier II missions,
including the Navy’s Recognized
Marine Picture, Maritime Security
Operations and Maritime
Interdiction Operations. For the
Marines, KillerBee provides full
capability as a close-range UAS,
enabling enhanced decision making
and improved integration with
ground schemes of manoeuvre.
KillerBee will also be ideal for the
U.S. Air Force’s STUAS/Tier II
needs by providing persistent
reconnaissance, surveillance and
target acquisitions in support of
security forces. KillerBee, with its
demonstrated Identification, Friend
or Foe Mode 3C capability, has a
clear path toward flight-certification
by Naval Air Systems Command.
*STANAG 4586 is a NATO
specification that allows members
of the alliance to share information
obtained by its unmanned air vehicles.
KillerBee Specifications
Payload Capacity: 5,800 in3
Payload Weight: 30+ lb
Flight Range: 100+ mi
Endurance: 15 hr
Wing Span: 10 ft
Flight Controller: STANAG 4586 compliant
EO/IR Payload: Daytime video, night-time IR
See:http://www.raytheon.com/capabilities/rtnwcm/groups/rms/documents/content/rtn_rms_products_killerbee_fac.pdf