Long before the first manned, powered flight took place, the history of the unmanned version of flying devices arguably began with Homo Sapiens' curiosity about what makes birds fly, driven by a desire to overcome the limitations imposed by gravity. To soar with the birds to observe the Earth from the point of view known only to the avian class of vertebrates has been one of the strongest motivational forces in mankind’s history.  

The modernisation of systems developed for manned aircraft, coupled with advances in electronic systems, power sources, artificial intelligence and nanotechnology, enabled the integration of automation that refined, if not defined, the capabilities of both manned and unmanned aircraft systems. 

In modern times, the term “unmanned aircraft” has come to mean an autonomous or remotely piloted vehicle used to navigate there. Even the name assigned to unoccupied aircraft has changed over the years as viewed by aircraft manufacturers, civil aviation authorities and the military. Aerial torpedoes, drones pilotless vehicles, radio-controlled aircraft, remotely controlled aircraft, remotely piloted aircraft (RPA), autonomous aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and others are but a few of the terms used to describe a flying machine operated without a pilot onboard. 

Air warfare is evolving continuously due to UAS. According to military experts, UAS are more accurate than human-crewed aircraft, allowing for little attrition while keeping pilots safe. UAS are criticised for being unethical and frequently killing innocent individuals while frightening society. However, they get quicker and more resilient and are also employed more on the battlefield, resulting in a hypermodern conflict. These play a predominant role in fighting, surveillance and reconnaissance tasks.

Leveraging UAS 

Over the past decade, military forces successfully used UAS to perform various tasks, including Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, Close Air Support, Logistics Support and communications. Military analysts opine that UAS could further replace manned aircraft for several missions, including Aerial Refueling, Air-to-Air Combat, Suppression and Destruction of enemy air defences, Combat Search and Rescue, and Electronic Warfare. 

Both UAS and Manned Aircraft Systems have numerous advantages and disadvantages. For instance, manned aircraft have the advantage of having a pilot who can make real-time decisions and adapt to changing situations. They are typically better suited for challenging missions that require human expertise. Manned aircraft allow for direct human interaction within the aircraft, facilitating coordination, communication, and collaboration among the crew members, enhancing their situational awareness and decision-making abilities. Furthermore, the presence of human pilots can have psychological effects on adversaries making manned aircraft effective in deterrence and influencing perceptions on the battlefield. 

At the same time, the ability of UAS for continuous availability and sustained endurance has the edge over manned aircraft due to its performance. UAS has a higher risk-taking capability than manned vehicles.  

AI and air warfare 

UN had reported the attack of the Libyan opposition troops by a quadcopter that weighed 15 pounds and was made in Turkey. If anybody had perished in that March 2020 attack, it would have been the “first known case of artificial intelligence-based autonomous weapons being used to kill”. The drone, known as the lethal autonomous weapons system, attacked humans without approval from its operator.  

Author Paul Scharre stated that the finest weapons systems blend computer intelligence with human intelligence to produce hybrid cognitive structures that use both advantages. He also says using a cognitive structure like this can produce greater results than relying only on people or AI. 

The primary benefit of UAS is their value as instruments for governments. Without any significant human involvement, UAS may produce an immediate effect. The Clausewitzian axiom that “the war is a continuation of politics by other means” best describes the relationship between war and politics now more than ever.

Going forward 

The combination of armed and unarmed aircraft will probably be used to fight tomorrow’s war, each combining its abilities. To benefit from the advantages of both types of aeroplanes, integrated systems are being designed which operate in conjunction with unmanned platforms. 

It could enhance tactical situational awareness and the lethality of the manned platforms while improving their survival chances. The innovative concept of action could revolutionize future warfare planning and conduct, giving importance to interoperability between connected systems. 

EurAsian Times