What are UAVs?
“Unmanned air vehicles” is the term used in the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) to refer to unmanned systems that fly within the atmosphere and are not rocket-propelled. Different terms may be used in other contexts, but for MTCR purposes this term includes cruise missiles, as well as target drones, reconnaissance drones, and other forms of UAVs, be they military or civilian, armed or unarmed. UAVs can be as large as a jetliner or as small as a model airplane, can be jet or propeller driven; there are even concepts for guided, unmanned blimps that would be UAVs. Uses of UAVs. UAVs have been in military service since at least the use of the V-1 cruise missile and target drones in World War II. Since then, their use has grown dramatically in land-attack (in ground-, sea-, and air-launched modes), reconnaissance, as targets, and even in some civilian applications such as pipeline inspection and crop-dusting. The U.S. military is at the cutting edge, with nuclear-armed cruise miss
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are essentially airplanes that have no humans on board. They are also sometimes referred to as drones in common speech, and the term Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) is technically preferred. The history of UAVs starts as far back as World War I, when the military used what were essentially remote-controlled airplanes to train their artillery men in anti-aircraft fighting. It wasn’t until the 1980s that UAVs began to be used for other purposes, with the Israeli Defense Force using them to carry out a number of scouting operations. In recent years, many militaries – particularly the United States – have begun focusing intensely on using UAVs whenever possible. UAVs offer a number of benefits over traditional aircraft. Chief among these is the fact that UAVs create no danger to pilots, allowing the military to deploy aircraft into hostile regions without fearing the loss of soldiers. UAVs may also eventually be substantially cheaper than traditional aircraft,
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are essentially airplanes that have no humans on board. They are also sometimes referred to as drones in common speech, and the term Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) is technically preferred. The history of UAVs starts as far back as World War I, when the military used what were essentially remote-controlled airplanes to train their artillery men in anti-aircraft fighting. It wasn’t until the 1980s that UAVs began to be used for military purposes, with the Israeli Defense Force using them to carry out a number of scouting operations. In recent years, many militaries ?particularly the United States ?have begun focusing intensely on using UAVs whenever possible. UAVs offer a number of benefits over traditional aircraft. Chief among these is the fact that UAVs create no danger to pilots, allowing the military to deploy aircraft into hostile regions without fearing the loss of soldiers. UAVs may also eventually be substantially cheaper than traditional aircraft,
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles are (the name is deceptive I know) airplanes that fly without a pilot aboard. UAVs can be directed by an external controller or be pre-programmed. Sizes vary greatly on these machines; they can be as small as a couple feet, to having a 200-foot wingspan, larger than the Boeing 747. (Tice 2) UAVs come in many different designs; they can be anything from model airplanes to missiles to ball-shaped vehicles with helicopter blades. (Tice 2) Currently, these vehicles carry only non-lethal payloads, however unmanned aerial combat vehicles are in the works. (centner) Often UAVs that are remotely piloted are referred to as RPVs, or remotely piloted vehicles. These low-cost joystick-controlled machines provide a significant boost to U.S. war-fighting capability. (Ashley 2) These machines can remain above targets for extended periods of time taking high-resolution pictures. It is this persistent dwell capability that makes UAVs special. The other more sophisticated and co
A pilot-less aircraft or an UAV can simply be defined as an aircraft with no pilots on board. Speaking from a more technical angle, an UAV can be defined as a powered aerial vehicle sustained in flight by aerodynamic lift and guided without an onboard crew. It may be expendable or recoverable, and can fly autonomously or be piloted remotely. Un-Manned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) Flying objects that are remote controlled from the ground control system. However, cruise missiles are often considered to be an UAV. A cruise missile is a guided missile, which uses a lifting wing and a jet propulsion system to allow sustained flight. However, certain modifications in the nomenclature of UAVs have made sure that objects like cruise missiles are considered a weapon and not an UAV. Hence, UAVs are also being referred as UAVS (Unmanned Aircraft Vehicle System) or the UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System) while talking distinctly about pilot-less aircrafts. To view pictures of UAVs click here.
