Great point, Paul, on the main limitation to the use of UCAVs in the A-A
mode is fear of "blue on blue" losses.

Maybe there will be some role for manned vehicles (or remotely piloted
vehicles) in some A-G applications where the advantages of having a robot
pilot aren't so great.

However, the advantages of lighter, leaner, cheaper, more lethal, less risk
will be a powerful reason for getting the wet bags of protein out of the
loop quickly.

Steve Swartz

"Paul F Austin" wrote in message
.. .

"JDupre5762" wrote
Does anyone remember......... The missile will make the internal gun and
the
dog fight obsolete? Fighters will kill thier targets at BVR and never
see
them? Modern submarines with missiles make surface ships obsolete?
Modern man
portable anti tank missiles make the tank obsolete?

Clearly UAVs have an important and increasing role especially in
military
roles
but there will always be a need to have a pilot on station somewhere who
can
actually see what is going on with his own eyes.

"The bomber will always get through"? How about the cavalry?

UAVs are pretty obviously the platform of choice for sensors in the recon
role. They have a big role to play in SEAD but are unlikely to do
autonomous
targeting until a lot more experience is available. The only reason they
can't do autonomous air to air is because our pilots will have no desire
to
share the sky with self-targeting AAMs.