Unmanned System Acquisition and Technology Development: Is a More Integrated Approach Required?

Over the course of the last 100 years, historic trends show there has been a clear and steady move towards the use of unmanned systems limited onlyby the technologies available to make the systems effective compared to manned systems. There is the potential that unmanned systems constitute a disruptive technology that may change the way wars are fought. An analysis of the current acquisition and technology development process and of the potential impact of unmanned systems on warfare shows that the U.S. should develop a more integrated approach for unmanned system development.