DIIG Current Issues No. 14: Unmanned Aircraft Systems, 2010-2050

Given the value of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) to provide Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and firepower without placing warfighters at undue risk, these systems are receiving much attention and growing increasingly sophisticated and versatile. The U.S. Air Force (USAF), the U.S. Army, and the European Defense Agency (EDA) have recently published long-term visions for UAS, identifying numerous benefits and challenges to developing future systems. Realization of these plans may have several implications for the global aerospace and defense industrial base.