The U.S. Navy is juggling many technical and operational options for unmanned aircraft, but it contends that this reflects a broad interest in such aircraft that is tempered by slim budgets. However, there is no confusion about the basic need for such vehicles. The service wants, in this order: 1. A shorter range tactical UAV for reconnaissance of the battlefield and designating targets. Currently, the Navy is developing the vertical takeoff UAV (VTUAV), based on a helicopter airframe, for that mission. 2. A medium-range, long-endurance UAV for surveillance of a foe with all-weather video, electronic and radar sensors. 3. Access to the intelligence products gathered by Air Force unmanned aircraft, particularly the very long-range, high-altitude Global Hawk UAV. 4. An unmanned (or uninhabited) combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) that can carry both lethal weapons like the small smart bomb and information warfare weapons. The latter could include electronic jammers and directed energy devices such as lasers and high-power microwave weapons to disable electronic battlefield devices and computers.
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