1、 May 10,2007 THE UNMANNED COMBAT AIR SYSTEM CARRIER DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM:A NEW DAWN FOR NAVAL AVIATION?1 By Thomas P.Ehrhard,PhD,and Robert O.Work EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Aircraft carriers are one of Americas key power-projection systems.To ensure their continued operational effectiveness and survivabili
2、ty in the future security environment,they need to be equipped with new air platforms with greater range(independent reach),greater persistence(ability to loiter over the target area),and improved stealth(ability to survive in contested airspace).In brief,this study finds:?An important way to achiev
3、e these goals is to develop and field a low-observable and air-refuelable carrier-capable unmanned combat air system(UCAS).?The key first step toward achieving this transformational capability is the Navys new Unmanned Combat Air System Carrier Demonstration(UCAS-D)program and its associated technol
4、ogy maturation efforts to ensure these new aircraft can be safely operated as part of integrated carrier air operations.?Congress and the Office of the Secretary of Defense should consider funding an expanded UCAS-D and technology program to improve the chances that a safe,reliable,and effective car
