Evaluating the Use of Manned and Unmanned Aircraft Systems in Strategic Offensive Tasks

Abstract

Today countries want to reach their aims in the fastest way due to economical, political and humanitarian aspects. The most efficient way to make these aims real is penetrating strategic targets. Strategic targets are generally located deep inside the countries and are defended by modern and efficient surface to air missiles(SAM) platforms which operate integratedly with Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaisance (ISR) systems. On the other hand, these high valued targets are burried deep underground and hardened with strong materials against attacks. That is why, penetrating these targets requires very detailed intelligence. This intelligence process should include a wide range from weaponry to threat assessment and will determine the frame of the attack package.

This mission package have to execute missions in a high threat environment. The way to minimize the risk here is utilizing packages which are formed by UAVs. On the other hand, due to flying UAVs which are controlled by ground command and control units, UAVs have very limited capability to make the right decision in dynamic situations. Therefore, UAVs can hardly execute a mission in deep regions of a country. To solve this problem we should generate a mission package which include semi-autonomous UAVs with leadership of a fifth generation aircraft. Thus, we can easily penetrate in the depths of the enemy, decide according to changing conditions and also finally destroy the strategic targets.

This article determines the autonomous level of the UAVs, examines the features of a mission package and presents what kind of a mission package we should establish in order to make maximum benefit and effect in attacking strategic targets.