Unmanned Aircraft Systems Predator B, courtesy GA-ASI. Unmanned aircraft system: doing the dirty work The unmanned aircraft system is an integral part of any military's portfolio. The UAS can provide unrivalled ISR and attack capabilities as well as a host of other offerings. The vehicles themselves are developing and there is a great range of models to choose from that suit different types of sortie. Global Military Communications finds out about the latest that is on offer in terms of Unmanned Aerial Systems. The UAS is absolutely indispensable for the military of today. Their many guises mean that there is a UAS type to fit any mission. Technological developments have advanced the capabilities of the UAS to an impressive degree. Today, they may be used in combat, for electronic attack, strike missions, suppression or destruction of enemy air defence, communications relay or combat search and rescue. UAS vary greatly, and can range in cost from thousands to millions of dollars and can weigh anything from less than one pound to over 40,000 pounds. They can also be fixed-wing, rotary or autonomous. There are various types of UAS with different capabilities including: · · · · and aerial guns that simulate an enemy or target; Reconnaissance ­ gathers intelligence from the battlefield; Combat ­ UAVs used for attack purposes in high risk situations; Research & Development ­ for the development of UAVs in the field; and Civil & Commercial. · 12 Target and Decoy ­ these UAVs provide a target for ground The most significant benefit of using a UAS in a battlefield situation is the fact that there is no risk to human life. The other huge benefit is the fact that these systems can fly for over 30 hours nonstop with no lapse of concentration or the obvious fatigue that a human being would experience. The data and images that a UAS' sensors collect can be sent back to base in real time where it can be processed immediately for speeding up the decision making proc- www.satellite-evolution.com | May/June 2010 uav.pmd 12 6/29/2010, 11:03 PM