Unmanned air vehicle/remotely piloted vehicle analysis for lethal UAV/RPV

• Main Author: Kaltenberger, Burke R.
• Other Authors: Kaminer, Isaac I.
• Language: en_US
• Published: Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School 2014
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10945/39960

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. === An investigation was conducted to provide a comprehensive evaluation of current Unmanned Aircraft Vehicle/Remotely Piloted Vehicle (UAV/RPV) system and its applicability as a lethal weapon system. Numerous systems were evaluated while concentrating on the Department of Defense more prominent programs, the Pioneer UAV, Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) UAV and BQM-147A (EXDRONE) UAV. Israel has proven time and time again, that UAVs/RPVs, when properly integrated into the combat arena as a lethal weapon system, can contribute significantly at a lower cost with less risk to an aircrew man in a manned aircraft system. In general the thesis shows many capable UAV/RPV systems designs are available in the market place today. These systems are assessed to determine their viability in the every changing combat environment.