Since the end of World War II, military science researchers have been exploring ways to reduce casualties in warfare, and the best answer is unmanned remote control technology. From the initial unmanned target aircraft, unmanned target ships, and then to the late twentieth century began to gradually rise in combat drones, it can be said that scientists have thought of various ways to achieve unmanned combat.
Later, the U.S. military took the lead in proposing the concept of “swarm” drones, the idea is to form a huge swarm of drones, just like a swarm of bees, through the huge number of advantages to carry out strikes on hostile targets, but also can constantly turn zero into whole, adjust the formation of the whole into zero, to play the role of confusing the opponent, disrupting the radar target. This concept of combat is very new and deadly, the U.S. Navy was the first to recognize the potential of swarm operations, cheap unmanned no matter how the loss, teasing more cost-effective than the loss of expensive heavy weapons and lives.
In order to explore the maximum potential of drone swarm tactics and tactical employment effects, the U.S. military constantly search for information from past war archives as a way to provide tactical inspiration. The U.S. Army eventually identified two basic UAV swarm tactics, which are the “Fire Strike Swarm Tactic” and the “Mobile Observation Swarm Tactic.
Because small drones use a limited amount of weapons and ammunition, they are disposable expendables regardless of the tactics they perform, so they can also be called “suicide drones. These drones use optical and recognition systems that allow the operator or the drone’s own AI system to identify target images and then identify high-value targets that need to be prioritized for strike. This tactic takes full advantage of the vulnerability of modern air defense radar system designs that do not account for micro and small targets, and swarms of drones are difficult to detect when flying at low altitudes. Unless exclusive radar is used, the only way to detect drones in advance is to observe them with the naked eye. Even if detected by radar, the number can be used to confuse the other side, and anti-aircraft fire may not be able to guarantee the complete destruction of all drones.
The swarm tactic of maneuvering inspection and fighter drones, as the name implies reconnaissance and strike two combined. This tactic relies on a large number of rotor-wing drones or fixed-wing drones, or even unmanned vehicles to conduct operations. Compared to the fire strike tactics, the reconnaissance and strike swarm tactics can be used in a wider range of operations, not only for frontline operations, but also for behind enemy lines. It can be used not only on the front lines, but also behind enemy lines to find high-value targets such as supply convoys, forward bases, commands, large communications equipment, etc. Taking out just one of these targets can have a breakthrough effect on a narrow battlefield axis. If properly combined with ground strike forces, air strikes and drone swarm strikes and precision strikes, it is likely to tear an even more deadly breach in the enemy’s front, weakening their combat power and organization, and even inflicting a blow to their will and morale.
Of course the range of rotary-wing aircraft still can not meet the needs of long-range combat, it is necessary to use fixed-wing drones. These fixed-wing drones are capable of carrying more equipment, and each of them is connected to a data chain that allows them to effectively identify targets and transmit information about them back to the main control platform. This data makes it easier for controllers and commanders to analyze the situation, calculate the enemy’s intentions or find the enemy’s weak points. After all, the advantage of unmanned equipment is easy and rapid communication, and less restricted by geography than other equipment.
Infiltration strikes are a favorite of fast and special forces, and there has never been a shortage of such tactics in human military history, and they have always worked wonders. But while infiltration forces often entail greater risk and higher casualties, UAVs allow personnel to hide in relative safety to carry out their missions, with all the risks borne by the unmanned devices. Smaller personnel casualties and smaller, less detectable unmanned equipment are the biggest advantages. Future paratroopers, special forces combined with unmanned aircraft, unmanned vehicle combat mode may gradually emerge in the simulation of the battlefield and the real battlefield, in order to maintain the range of unmanned equipment, may also have a high demand for battery technology, and operators also need to have maintenance assembly and UAS safety maintenance capabilities.
Conclusion
Of course, at this stage to achieve a fully unmanned military is also unlikely, unmanned devices can do precision strikes, swarm tactics, but is still a means of supporting warfare. Even though the demand for ground troops in modern warfare has fallen to its historical limit, ground troops are still needed to clear the battlefield and maintain the security environment in occupied areas. At the same time, unmanned equipment also lacks the ability to self-protection, equipment maintenance, maintenance, ammunition and battery replacement is still mainly human-based. But unmanned is already a future trend, in the future of war will appear more and more unmanned, intelligent equipment.
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