MUM's the word: The pairing of manned-unmanned platforms gathers pace

摘要

As the control systems that operate unmanned platforms advance, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in particular are increasingly being paired with manned vehicles across the air, land, and sea domains. Manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) has become a high priority for air forces across the globe due to the numerous advantages of providing a pilot-free component to aerial warfare. An easy way to surmise the benefits of UAVs is through their suitability for performing 'dull, dirty, and dangerous' tasks. Delving into this concept, the first category of'dull' operations is benefited by the reduced manpower required to operate pilotless vehicles. Unmanned aircraft such as aerostats can be left unattended, with artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms flagging potential points of interest. As autonomy increases, even larger fixed-wing UAVs are increasingly capable of loitering above a target for surveillance and targeting purposes, with the operator only intervening to authorise a strike.