Here is the article to convince sceptics on the development for
possible use of UAVs as an offensive weapons.
FOAS - FUTURE OFFENSIVE AIR SYSTEM,
UNITED KINGDOM
The Future Offensive Air System (FOAS) is the name given to a
number of concept options being examined for the UK Ministry of
Defence's requirement to replace the capabilities provided by the
Tornado GR4 aircraft.
The aircraft and airborne systems developed under the FOAS
initiative will become operational around the year 2018, when the
Tornado GR4s have reached the end of their operational lives.
The FOAS research program is running in parallel to two major UK
defence initiatives - on the new future aircraft carrier (CVF) and
on the Future Joint Combat Aircraft (FJCA), formerly known as the
Future Carrier Borne Aircraft (FCBA), for which the STOVL (short
take-off vertical landing) variant of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
was chosen in September 2002.
An "initial gate" decision, which will move the project into the
assessment phase, is expected in 2003. Procurement decisions are
expected in 2008.
BAE SYSTEMS is examining the best combined force mix, comprising
manned aircraft, uninhabited air vehicles (UAVS) and conventional
air-launched cruise missiles (CALCMs).
MANNED AIRCRAFT
Options being evaluated for the FOAS Manned Aircraft include
variants of developed aircraft such as the Eurofighter and the
Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), rather than dedicated new build design
aircraft. The manned aircraft will operate in long-range, low-level
missions, using stealth technologies and terrain screening.
Electronic warfare research areas being examined include
multisensor data fused networks, more powerful radar and
countermeasures processors, and the frequency dependence of stealth
technologies, sensors and decoys.
The new build aircraft concept may carry the range of current and
future weapons in the UK inventory, including internally mounted
large air-to-surface weapons, together with an extensive external
payload.
UNINHABITED AIR VEHICLES
Uninhabited air vehicles (UAVs), which are currently used for
surveillance, weapon targeting, command and control, as well as for
electronic warfare, are being studied within the FOAS
programme.
A range of UAVs will be deployed. Intelligence, surveillance,
reconnaissance and combat UAVs are capable of operating
autonomously or in cooperation with manned aircraft to increase
operational flexibility and reduce aircrew loss or capture during
high-risk missions.
CONVENTIONAL AIR-LAUNCHED CRUISE MISSILES
Conventional air-launched cruise missiles are an integral part of
the FOAS force mix, through the launch of waves of stand-off
weapons from positions behind the front line. Studies of
fire-and-forget missile technologies are underway on propulsion, on
guidance (using millimetre-wave and imaging infrared with focal
plane arrays) and on robustness against countermeasures.
The CALCM studies are assessing the viability of a range of
concepts for the deployment of large numbers of cruise missiles
launched from adapted airliners, military transporters or maritime
patrol aircraft. Both internal and external carriage options are
under evaluation, with launch, command, control and operational
issues also playing a key part in force mix assumptions.
Two parallel studies have been contracted by the MOD, to MBDA
(formerly Matra BAe Dynamics) and Aerosystems UK. MBDA, teamed with
Lockheed Martin Aeronautical System, BAe Airbus and Flight
Refuelling Limited, has been contracted to perform feasibility and
concept studies for both the overall FOAS CALCM system and the
missile itself.
Studies are considering all aspects of weapon carriage and release,
ground handling, stores management, and operational analysis. MBDA
is making use of advanced technologies such as synthetic
environment to ensure that the current feasibility studies deliver
the most technologically advanced and cost-effective
solution.
MBDA studies to date have defined a FOAS-CALCM solution, which
consists of a combination of advanced cruise missiles, modular
carriage and release concepts, datalinking to satellites, JSTARS or
other command, control, communications, computers and intelligence
(C4I) assets, and real-time battle damage assessment. The output
from the studies will support the forthcoming MoD combined
operational effectiveness and investment appraisal (COEIA).
MBDA also maintains a key position as weapon supplier in the team
developing the technology demonstrator programme, with inputs into
demonstrators aligned with the new breed of cruise missile system
envisaged for the future FOAS mission.
Aerosystems International, based in Yeovil and teamed with
Aerostructures Hamble Limited, Frazer Nash Consultancy Limited and
Flight Refuelling Limited, has been contracted to carry out concept
studies of CALCM systems to generate performance parameters that
will be used in the MOD's formulation of technology demonstration
and system prototype programmes.
http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/foas/index.html