Unmanned Strategic Airlift : A Viable Option in Meeting the Strategic Airlift Shortfall

ISBN-13: 9783639123913 / Angielski / Miękka / 2009 / 116 str.

Chad Manske

Opis

This study examined whether there is a suitable role for unmanned airlifters in the USAF. A three-pronged approach was undertaken to make this determination: 1) an examination of the operational requirements that justify unmanned airlifters, 2) an investigation into current and emerging UAV technologies that are likely to meet the operationalrequirements, and 3) an analysis of the costeffectiveness of unmanned airlift. The study begins by establishing the fact that a strategic airlift shortfall exists. The author postulates the concept of unmanned airlift as a potential solution for meeting the gap between requirements and existingcapability. The author concludes that operationalrequirements for airlift could be satisfied within 10 to 20 years, and that technologies essential to unmanned airlift are indeed both a technologically feasible and cost effective alternative for complementing and augmenting the USAF s fleet of venerable airlifters.

O autorze

Col Chad T. Manske, United States Air Force, is currently the
Chief, Strategy and Integration Division at HQ USAF in the
Pentagon. Before that, Col Manske was a Fellow at Harvard s
Weatherhead Center For International Affairs following an
assignment at Dover Air Base in Delaware, as the vice commander
of the 436th Airlift Wing.