NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Unmanned combat air vehicle

The Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) or "combat drones" is the name of a new class of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). They differ from ordinary UAVs, because they are designed to deliver weapons (attack targets) – possibly with a great degree of autonomy. Boeing X-45A UCAV, 2002 From: http://www. ... Boeing X-45A UCAV, 2002 From: http://www. ... The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA, TYO: 7661 ) is a major aerospace and defense corporation, originally founded by William Boeing. ... Boeing X-45A UCAV The Boeing X-45 Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) is a concept demonstrator for a next generation of completely autonomous fighter aircraft, developed by Boeings Phantom Works (a Skunk Works-like division acquired through McDonnell Douglas). ... The Â£124 million Taranis UAV built by BAE Systems An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is an aircraft with no onboard pilot. ...

Current UCAV concepts call for an aircraft which would be able to operate virtually autonomously. It will be programmed with route and target details, and conduct the mission without help from human controllers.

Laws of war

Most countries are bound to international Laws of war (such as the Geneva Conventions). These laws govern the conduct of participants in war (and also defines combatants). These laws place a burden upon participants to limit collateral damage through proper identification of targets and distinction between combatants and non-combatants. It is in this area where the use of completely autonomous weapon systems are problematic, since it is difficult to assign accountability to a person. It is for these reasons that current designs still incorporate an element of human control (a "man in the loop") – meaning that a ground controller must authorize weapons release. The two parts of the laws of war (or Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC)): Law concerning acceptable practices while engaged in war, like the Geneva Conventions, is called jus in bello; while law concerning allowable justifications for armed force is called jus ad bellum. ... Original document. ... Collateral damage is a U.S. Military term for unintended or incidental damage during a military operation. ...

Concerns also include the human controller's role, because if they are a civilian and not a member of the military (which is quite possible with developmental and highly sophisticated weapons systems) they would be considered a combatant under international law with which carries a distinct set of responsibilities and consequences. It is for this reason that the "man in the loop" should ideally be a member of the military that understand and accepts their role as combatant.

Current concepts

Note: Some of these are not aircraft prototypes but technology demonstrators (TD) that are not expected to enter service. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (3216x2136, 2560 KB)The EADS Barracuda demonstrator model UAV at ILA 2006. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (3216x2136, 2560 KB)The EADS Barracuda demonstrator model UAV at ILA 2006. ... The Barracuda demonstrator at the ILA 2006. ... ILA2004 display area The Berlin Air Show ILA2006 belongs to the most important aerospace trade-fairs in the world and takes place in Berlin, Germany. ... Image File history File links NEUROn-CG-concept-112005-dassault. ... Image File history File links NEUROn-CG-concept-112005-dassault. ... nEUROn (formerly spelled Neuron) is the European UCAV technology demonstrator. This delta wing stealth Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) project is the final phase of the French Dassault Aviation LOGIDUC 3-step stealth combat drone programme. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... Alenia Aeronautica (formerly Aeritalia) is an aerospace engineering corporation in Italy, a subisidary of Finmeccanica. ... Image File history File links European_flag. ... nEUROn (formerly spelled Neuron) is the European UCAV technology demonstrator. This delta wing stealth Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) project is the final phase of the French Dassault Aviation LOGIDUC 3-step stealth combat drone programme. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Africa. ... Denel Aerospace Systems is a division of Denel, the South African armaments production company. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Israel. ... Israel Aircraft Industries or IAI is Israels prime aerospace and aviation manufacturer, producing aerial systems for both military and civilian usage. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS N.V. (EADS) is a large European aerospace corporation, formed by the merger on July 10, 2000 of AÃ©rospatiale-Matra of France, Construcciones AeronÃ¡uticas SA (CASA) of Spain, and DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG (DASA) of Germany. ... The Barracuda demonstrator at the ILA 2006. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... BAE Systems plc is the worlds fourth largest defence contractor,[3] the largest in Europe and a commercial aerospace manufacturer. ... Taranis is a British demonstrator programme for Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) technology. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China. ... J-5 of the PLAAF The J-5 or F-5, not to be confused with the American-made F-5 Freedom Fighter, is a Chinese-built single-seat jet interceptor and fighter aircraft derived from the Russian MiG-17. ... An F-6 of the Pakistan Air Force The Shenyang J-6 (designated F-6 for export versions) was the Chinese-built version of the Soviet MiG-19 fighter aircraft. ... The Chengdu J-7 (export versions are designated F-7) is a Peoples Republic of China-built fighter jet derived from the Russian MiG-21. ...

The French Air Force is also expected to start fielding the Dassault Neuron by 2010. nEUROn (formerly spelled Neuron) is the European UCAV technology demonstrator. This delta wing stealth Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) project is the final phase of the French Dassault Aviation LOGIDUC 3-step stealth combat drone programme. ...

The Israeli Air Force plans to procure a large long-range UCAV that resembles a fighter-jet. The Israeli UCAV, named Eitan, sports a wingspan of 26 meters and a takeoff weight of four tons. The state-owned Israel Aircraft Industries developed the Eitan. Eitan would be a multi-purpose UCAV with automatic takeoff and landing able to locate and destroy mobile ballistic missile launchers in reconnaissance and attack missions. The Israeli Air Force (IAF; Hebrew: ×–×¨×•×¢ ×”××•×™×¨ ×•×”×—×œ×œ, Zroa HaAvir VeHaá¸¤alal, Air and Space Division, commonly known as ×—×™×œ ×”××•×•×™×¨ Hel HaAvir) is the air force of the Israel Defense Forces. ...

J-UCAS

The J-UCAS UCAV would use stealth technologies and carry precision-guided weapons such as the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) or precision miniature munitions, such as the Small-Diameter Bomb to suppress enemy air defenses. Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems, or J-UCAS, is the name for the joint U.S. Navy/U.S. Air Force unmanned combat air vehicle procurement project. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The Boeing X-45 Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) is a concept demonstrator for a next generation of completely autonomous fighter aircraft, developed by Boeings Phantom Works (similar to Lockheed Martins Skunk Works division; acquired through McDonnell Douglas). ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The Northrop Grumman X-47A Pegasus is a demonstration Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle. ... The Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) is a low-cost guidance kit that converts existing unguided gravity bombs, or dumb bombs, into accurate, all-weather smart munitions. ... The GBU-39 small-diameter bomb (SDB) is a 250 pound (110 kg) class guided bomb that is intended to provide aircraft with the ability to carry more weapons per sortie, thus increasing the number of kills possible. ...

Controllers could use real-time data sources, including satellites, to plan for and respond to changes on and around the battlefield.

USAF Hunter-Killer

The United States Air Force has shifted its UCAV program from medium-range tactical strike aircraft to long-range strategic bombers.[1]. The technology of the Long Range Strike program is based on the Lockheed Martin Polecat demonstrator. Categories: Aircraft stubs ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... External links Aviation Week & Space Technology article on USAF Hunter-Killer project. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... External links Aviation Week & Space Technology article on USAF Hunter-Killer project. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... General Atomics is a nuclear physics and defense contractor in southern California. ... -1... Image File history File links Flag_of_Israel. ... Israel Aircraft Industries or IAI is Israels prime aerospace and aviation manufacturer, producing aerial systems for both military and civilian usage. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Lockheed/BAE/Northrop F-35 Lockheed Trident missile C-130 Hercules; in production since the 1950s, now as the C-130J Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) is an aerospace manufacturer formed in 1995 by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta. ... The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial warfare branch of the United States armed forces and one of the seven uniformed services. ... Military tactics (Greek: TaktikÄ“, the art of organizing an army) are the collective name for methods for engaging and defeating an enemy in battle. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with The long tail. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Lockheed Martin Polecat is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle developed by Lockheed Martins Advanced Development Programs division in Palmdale, California. ...

See also

Unmanned aerial vehicles, known variously as UAVs, drones, and remotely piloted vehicles (RPVs), have been a feature of aviation for much of its history, though in limited or secondary roles, and often overlooked. ... The history of Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles (UCAV) describes the development and history of Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles (UCAV) and is closely tied to the general history of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) since UCAVs are a specialized development or offshoot of Unmanned Air Vehicles. ...

External links

Categories: UAVs and drones | Unmanned vehicles | Military robots Aviation refers to flying using aircraft, machines designed by humans for atmospheric flight. ... This is a timeline of aviation history. ... This list of aircraft is sorted alphabetically, beginning with the name of the manufacturer (or, in certain cases, designer). ... This is a list of aircraft manufacturers (in alphabetic order). ... List of aircraft engines: Piston engines Wankel engines Compound engines Turbo-compound Thermojet Jet engines Propfan Pulsejet Ramjet Turbofan Turbojet Turboprop Turboshaft Rocket engines ABC Scorpion ABC Wasp Aeronca E-113 Aerosport-Rockwell LB600 Agusta GA.70 Agusta GA.140 Alfa Romeo 110 Alfa Romeo 115 Alfa Romeo 121 Alfa... This is a list of aircraft engine manufacturers both past and present. ... This is a list of airlines in operation (by continents and country). ... This is a list of air forces, sorted alphabetically by country, followed by a list of former countries air forces. ... This is an incomplete list of aircraft weapons, past and present. ... Below is a list of (links to pages on) missiles, sorted alphabetically by name. ... A Boeing 720 being flown under remote control as part of NASAs Controlled Impact Demonstration The following is a list of Unmanned aerial vehicles developed and operated by various countries around the world. ... This is a list of experimental aircraft. ... // This is a list of notable incidents and accidents involving military aircraft grouped by the year that the incident or accident occurred. ... // This list of notable accidents and incidents on commercial aircraft is grouped by the years in which the incidents or accidents occurred. ... // This list of notable accidents and incidents involving general aviation is grouped by the years in which the incidents or accidents occurred. ... This is a list of some well-known people who have died in aviation-related events. ... The SR-71 Blackbird is the current record holder. ... Flight distance records without refueling. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with List of altitude records reached by different aircraft types. ... The flight endurance record is the amount of time spent in the air. ... Aircraft with a production run greater than 5,000 aircraft. ...

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