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At the Pointy End, Better Is Bigger

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rangerrebew:
At the Pointy End, Better Is Bigger
By Andrew Davies & James Mugg
March 20, 2017


In a recent Strategist post, we discussed the pros and cons of different sized unmanned maritime aerial systems. We came down on the side of larger systems. Geoff Slocombe then took issue with our position, arguing that there’s a lot to be said for smaller systems.

Let’s be clear: Geoff is absolutely right to extol the virtues of small footprint Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). At little logistic cost, they can do all sorts of useful things. Unmanned systems have some notable advantages over manned platforms; they’re usually cheaper to operate and have greater endurance (for the same size). In the intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance (ISR) role they can be the eyes of the ship at distances and in conditions beyond the capabilities of human lookouts. And a future network of small UASs will be able to provide extended and persistent over-the-horizon situational awareness. No task group should be without them. And, if ISR was all you ever wanted to do, there’d be no reason to look much beyond them.

http://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2017/03/20/at_the_pointy_end_better_is_bigger_111003.html

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