SPECIAL REPORT: ADVANCED UAV SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS
Foreword
T
his Special Report focuses on the new powerful and technologically fast moving area of unmanned aerial vehicles or systems. Every month new capabilities are added to these increasingly ubiquitous flying vehicles.
frequently downplayed at the planning stage. The
The Report opens with a piece that looks at the
for surveillance, referred to in the fourth article, offer
design, development and manufacture of UAVs
useful guidance to manufacturers looking to improve
in South Africa over the last 20 years, which place
their products and to potential purchasers of UAVs
South Africa at the forefront of UAV technology when
who seek a solution to problems that may generate
compared to many countries now entering the UAV
unintended consequences.
third piece looks at the way that thinking by land commanders is beginning to change as they place increasing weight on the importance of UAS. Lessons Learned from the field are always vital. The recent lessons generated by the use of UAVs
market. The article goes on to describe a number of
The final piece looks at the future for UAS
UAV systems, including the Seeker II and the Seeker
and concludes that their frequent and more
400 as well as the Skua system and outlines the
widespread use seems to be guaranteed.
advantages of various systems for different roles
However, there are many technological restraints
including asymmetric warfare, peace support and
on their effectiveness that need to be lifted to
homeland security, as well as the use of small UAVs
maximize their value to the full. Some of these
for civilian and other applications.
restraints are not in the UAVs themselves but
The second article looks at the growing global
in problems created in the need to handle the
market for UAS not only in the United States, but also in
increased data flow and then for humans to take
niche specialist markets in Africa, the Middle East and
well-judged decisions on the data generated. The
Asia. Despite or, perhaps, because of, defense budget
human factor will always be paramount and the
cuts, alternative and sometimes-cheaper methods of
increased need for training for operators of UAVs
delivering the benefits of air power are being procured.
and the commanders who will take decisions on the
The rising demand for the wide spectrum of different
data generated will need further training.
types of UAS currently appears resilient. Counter Insurgency Operations (COIN) have found frequent effective use for UAS. However their role is
Mary Dub Editor
Mary Dub has covered the defence field in the United States and the UK as a television broadcaster, journalist and conference manager. Focused by a Masters in War Studies from King’s College, London, she annotates and highlights the interplay of armies, governments and industry.
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