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Overview
The successes of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in
Afghanistan most likely will accelerate the introduction of UAVs
into the military force structure. What emerged in Afghanistan
was a tiered observation-detection-targeting system consisting of
spacecraft, the Global Hawk UAV, the Predator UAV, and often a
spotter on the ground. However, in complex terrain, as in
Afghanistan, and in urban situations, airborne assets may be
needed much closer to the ground. A low-altitude tier of UAVs—
mini UAVs—could serve such a purpose.
This paper provides a basic understanding of the
aerodynamic scaling of mini UAVs and a sense of how their
capabilities could be matched with specific missions. Mini UAVs
have substantial limitations, but the low radar cross section,
low infrared signature, low acoustic signature, and birdlike
appearance of these vehicles, combined with the remarkable
capabilities of miniaturized payloads, make them contenders
for certain missions and potential valuable tactical assets.
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