UCAV (J-UCAS/UCLASS)

摘要

In the mid-1990s, the US armed forces began to examine the concept of UCAVs (uninhabited combat air vehicles). Unlike current UAVs that are intended primarily for reconnaissance missions, UCAVs are a combat UAV that could be employed on strike missions. UCAV programs were initially developed under separate US Air Force and US Navy programs but in June 2003, DoD decided to merge both programs into a common effort referred to as J-UCAS (Joint Unin-habited Combat Air Systems). In 2004, DoD decided to shift manage-ment responsibility for the J-UCAS effort back to the Air Force to occur in FY06 (October 2005).