An official Air Force press release notes that US Air Force “remotely piloted aircraft” (RPA) crews, otherwise known as UAV operators, have been approved to receive an incentive pay equal to current flight pay rates. (This was proposed–and criticized–as early as last fall.)
As noted in a variety of sources, the Air Force is instituting the previously declared drawdown in frontline fighters. It is “retiring” 250 fighters across several platforms, including nearly 100 F-16s.
By contrast, it was already common knowledge that the Air Force’s most recent budget had emphasized UAVs over manned fighters. The Air Force Times concludes that “by the end of the year” USAF UAV pilots will outnumber F-16 pilots. Presumably, these UAV operators will primarily control Reapers, Predators, and Global Hawks. F-16s were previously the largest manned major fighter weapon system in the Air Force.
Reuters notes the tensions between common phrases and those who want to control the semantics.
The US Air Force has made a concerted effort to change the lexicon of Predators, Reapers, and other air vehicles that do not have humans onboard. While traditionally called “UAVs,” or “Unmanned Air Vehicles,” the Air Force is now attempting to popularize the term “RPV,” or “Remotely Piloted Vehicle.” (See, for example, this official Air Force article which exclusively uses the term “RPV.”) The intent is to accurately convey the make up of the weapon system:
The change is significant to the Air Force as it recruits a new generation of pilots who may spend little time inside a jet plane. It wants the world to know that humans have “positive control over these vehicles,” [Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley] said.
Unfortunately, the Air Force might become a victim of its own insistence on correct characterization. For example, it is true that the Predator Read more
While UAVs have the politically palatable aspect of not endangering a pilot, they are not the panacea that some seem to have come to believe they are. They break, they crash, and sometimes they even have to be shot down by the good guys.
Now the Wall Street Journal reports that UAV video feeds that provide intel to American forces are also available to the targets of those feeds. US forces reportedly captured laptops with hours of supposedly classified UAV video.
In an era in which people are derided for not securing their passwords or loading anti-virus software on their computer, it seems unconscionable that the US military didn’t take the “simple” step of encrypting the feeds. This has led to some interesting comments, including “are we really that stupid?” as well as speculation that Read more
Military.com and FoxNews are two of several sites repeating articles that say the US Air Force has acknowledged a new UAV “shrouded in secrecy.”
Grainy photos show what appears to be a flying-wing aircraft, which was reportedly initially photographed flying over Afghanistan in 2007.
If nothing else, it is worth remembering that the US military is in a constant effort to field the best systems and weaponry. Because such systems are often developed and employed in secrecy, sometimes that’s an easy thing to forget.
Lt. Gen. David Deptula, Air Force deputy chief of staff for ISR and a strong advocate for UAVs, recently stated that “we haven’t even seen the horizon yet” on the last manned tactical aircraft.
While many have forecasted the “unemployment of the fighter pilot” as UAVs have become more ubiquitous, Deptula’s reason for saying fighter pilots have some job security is fairly simple:
There is no sensor package capable of “360-degree situational awareness that can process information” and decide on how to act upon it better than the human brain.
The article notes that Admiral Michael Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has said he is “inclined to believe” that the F-35 will be the last manned fighter.
The Air Force has continued its practice of paying bonuses (officially known as Aviator Continuation Pay, or ACP) to aviators.
After graduating from training, Air Force aviators (pilots and navigators) incur a commitment to serve; currently, the pilot commitment is 10 years. When the pilot’s commitment is over, Read more
Boeing, which has been emphasizing advanced technologies and weapon systems, recently announced that it had shot down small UAVs with vehicle-mounted lasers. (Boeing was also responsible for the airborne tactical laser that recently fired at ground targets.)
The system was under test by the US Air Force at the Naval Air Warfare Center in China Lake, CA.
The system experimentation serves two purposes: Read more