USAF’s 25-Year Take on UAV Operations & Management

Desert Hawk UAV(click to view full) DID covered the U.S. Defense Department’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Planning Task Force’s “Unmanned Systems Roadmap 2005-2030” back in August 2005. The US Air Force did not get the full authority over UAVs that it wanted, but it has recently completed a vision document focused on UAV operations and management. “The U.S. Air Force Remotely Piloted Aircraft and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Strategic Vision” [USAF release | PDF format] is not directive in nature. Instead, it lays out a broad vision and provides recommendations. These include developing common terminology, adequately funding relevant science and technology, coordinating efforts with other services, managing cost and performance expectations, reviewing and updating laws and policies, and integrating unmanned aircraft with manned and space platforms. The new strategic vision document also addresses the historical context of UAVs, the unique attributes of the aircraft, and the various challenges in fielding them.