Autonomous UAS: A Partial Solution to America's Future Airpower Needs

Abstract

Abstract : This research paper examines the role autonomous unmanned aerial systems (UAS) will play in the US Air Force (USAF), along with the obstacles the USAF will face in their use and proliferation. To some, the idea of fully autonomous weapon systems making their own targeting and weapons employment decisions conjures up troubling images from movies like Terminator and I, Robot. The US military already uses some semi- and fully autonomous technology (in both UAS and manned systems) and, as UAS technology matures, will look to increase these systems autonomy.