UAV / UCAV - Drohnen

[Quintus Fabius]

Strategische vs taktische Drohnen - Goldrandlösung vs Massenlösung (relevant in Bezug auf die Truppendichte) - Qualität vs Quantität

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The USAF's Predator unmanned aerial vehicle has a maximum speed of 135 mph and a range (excluding loiter time) of up to 775 miles. It has a payload (fuel, weapons and sensors) of just over 1,100 pounds, and cost about US $4 million a pop in 2010. The new Cub Crafters XCub, a carbon-fiber modernized version of the venerable Piper Cub with greatly upgraded capabilities, has a maximum speed of 153 mph, , a maximum range (at economical speeds) of 800 miles or more, and a maximum useful load of 1,084 pounds - and even with a relatively 'luxurious' leather and carbon-fiber interior, it costs less than $300,000. I'd imagine any halfway competent aeronautical engineer and computer whizkid could add pilotless operation to it relatively cheaply and easily - the technology to do so is now over-the-counter stuff. For a total expenditure of $200,000 or so, they could also add a surveillance system (in a retractable turret), a satellite communications system, and either weapon hard points under the wings, and/or a means of launching small weapons from the load compartment. That means one could field up to ten pilotless XCubs or equivalent aircraft for the cost of a single Predator. Obviously, the latter is purpose-designed for its surveillance mission, and is therefore likely to be much more capable at it . . . but just how capable does it have to be? The USAF needs four Predators to maintain what it classifies as a single 'unmanned aerial system', sufficient to keep an aircraft continuously on station over a surveillance or target area. A third world nation could have up to 40 light aircraft equivalents to the Predator for roughly the same cost. Which fleet will be more cost-effective and mission-capable in a typical engagement - say, in the next Iraq or Afghanistan conflict? Think about it.

Dafür dass man also 1 einzige Predator über einem Ziel kreisen hat, kann man eine Flotte von nicht weniger als 40 Aufklärungsdrohnen einsetzen welche in Bezug auf die Aufklärungsleistung und die Flugdauer ungefähr gleichwertig sind.

Statt einem Ziel kann man so nicht weniger als 40 Ziele überwachen. In Kombination mit weitreichender hochpräziser Artillerie entsteht so eine viel bessere Abdeckung des Geländes.

Schießt der Feind nur 1 Predator ab, ist keine Überwachung mehr da. Schießt er 1 der taktischen Drohnen ab, sind immer noch 39 übrig.

Was ist redundanter, überlebensfähiger, bietet die bessere Aufklärung ?!