Swarming, expendable, unmanned aerial vehicles as a warfighting capability

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have been employed for ISR (intelligence, surveillance & reconnaissance) missions for more than a century, and have been used for strike missions for more than a decade in modern theatres of conflict as effective light weapons platforms. While these robotic technologies have become relatively ‘mainstream’ today, there has been ongoing research and development (R&D) into the ability of their smaller variants to operate as a ‘single unit’ or swarm, with the aim of improving their capabilities and performance with respect to adversary targeting. This ‘evolution’ has occurred primarily because of the tactical advantages that this new developing technology may be able to provide. For example, any military technology that can absorb multiple hits and keep going, from a warfare point of view has a major advantage over other systems, such as manned, and even lone unmanned aircraft, which can be destroyed by a single missile. Additionally, the technology can be used in three ways by military forces: to attack, defend and to support functions such as ISR, and it reduces the risk of loss of human life and expensive equipment in battle.