Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Current and Potential Programs [April 13, 2022]   [open pdf - 2MB]

From the Summary: "Since the dawn of military aviation, the U.S. military has been interested in remotely piloted aircraft. Present-day unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) typically consist of an unmanned aircraft vehicle (UAV) paired with a ground control station. UAS have become ubiquitous in U.S. military operations since the 1990s with the introduction of the MQ-1 Predator. The U.S. military currently employs several different large UAS, including [1] the Army's MQ-1C Gray Eagle, [2] the Air Force's MQ-9 Reaper, [3] the Navy's MQ-25 Stingray, [4] the Air Force's RQ-4 Global Hawk, [5] the Navy's MQ-4C Triton, and [6] the Air Force's RQ-170 Sentinel. In addition, several other reported programs are either in development or currently undergoing experimentation. These programs include the Air Force's B-21 Raider and the Air Force's RQ-180. As Congress performs its oversight and authorization functions, it may consider several potential issues associated with UAS programs, including [1] the cost of manned versus unmanned aircraft, [2] a lack of acknowledged follow-on programs of record, [3] the management of UAS acquisitions across the Department of Defense, [4] the interoperation of UAS with existing force structure, and [5] export controls of UAS abroad."