On 15 Mar 2004 23:54:03 -0800,
(Tony Williams) wrote:

"John R Weiss" wrote in message news:p9u5c.18281$1p.326709@attbi_s54...

In the CAS arena, the comparative lack of situational awareness on the part of a
remote UAV operator will most likely increase the probability of friendly
fire -- not reduce it.

That's an interesting issue. A counter-argument could be that an
operator sitting safely back on the ground will be less stressed and
able to take more considered judgements - and if in doubt to call for
a second opinion from a senior officer looking over his shoulder.

The issue is field-of-view. How many sensors will the UAV carry? Where
will the look? How rapid can they scan? Now, consider the wetware on
scene--look right, look left, high/low, etc. Faster with much more
information available for accurate decision-making.

Ever tried to fly one of those PC flight sim war games where you
toggle to look in various directions?

There would also be the opportunity for more realistic training in
that it would be easy to record UAV films showing what different
friendly and enemy vehicles look like in various circumstances.

You must be aware that aircrews currently train on friend/foe
recognition.



Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
Smithsonian Institution Press
ISBN #1-58834-103-8