Cerone, Scott - How should the Joint Force handle the command and control of unmanned aircraft systems (2008) (ebook)

Author: Cerone, Scott R.

Branch - Country: United States Air Force

Abstract: The purpose of this monograph is to formulate a proposal for improvement and to highlight deficiencies in the current manner of command and control of remotely piloted aircraft systems.

The paper uses a historical method of analysing the centralisation of command and control of air power derived from the 1943 Casablanca Conference during World War II. It then applies the classification problems associated with aircraft and examines the lack of applicability of these taxonomies as technological advances make aircraft multipurpose assets.

This multipurpose capability of armed unmanned aerial vehicles allows the aircraft to straddle the line of command and control between a simple reconnaissance platform and an air-to-ground strike platform.

Three recommendations emerged from this research. The first is that the Ministry of Defence should appoint executive officers for unmanned aircraft systems. The second is that all three categories of unmanned aircraft systems - tactical, operational and strategic - should be centralised under the command and control of the air component commander. The third recommendation is to end the MQ-1 Predator programme and increase the acquisition of the Sky Warrior aircraft.

Keywords: Command and Control (C2); Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS); World War, 1939-1945; World War II; World War II; Air Power; Aircraft; Military Missions; Military Operations; Law; Predator (UAV)

Series: Command and General Staff College (CGSC), School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) Monograph

Publisher: Fort Leavenworth, KS, US Army Command and General Staff College,

Date, Original 2008-12-05; Date, Numerical 2008-12-05

Call Number ADA499695

Release Statement: Approved for Public Release; distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other government agency. (References to these studies should include the above statement).

Archive Repository: Combined Arms Research Library

Date Created 2009-02-24