Carrier Aviation Research Paper

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Unmanned Aircraft: The Future of Carrier Aviation?
For years members of the defense community have been predicting the end of manned aircraft. Retired Vice Admiral Robert F. Dunn recalled a conversation in 1954 aboard the USS
Wasp (CV-18) when a group of pilots were enjoying an after dinner smoke on the fantail while speculating about the future of carrier aviation. One senior Cobra pilot stated to his comrades that his plane would be the last manned aircraft ever purchased by the Navy. His explanation was that planes were becoming increasingly expensive and guided missiles were the wave of the future. (Dunn, 2011) While his prediction proved incorrect, it hasn’t stopped many from trying to predict what the future of carrier aviation will look …show more content…

While it’s imperative that technologies evolve to keep up with the threats of the future, the need for manned aircraft doesn’t look to diminish anytime soon. The advancement of foreign anti-ship missiles, naval capabilities, and anti-access area denial capabilities will undoubtedly make it difficult for unmanned aircraft to survive in environments that are much more hostile than we’ve seen in previous years.
The birth of carrier aviation dates back to the year 1911 when Lieutenant Eugene Ely first landed an airplane on the deck of the USS Pennsylvania in the San Francisco harbor. His success not only encouraged the U.S. to develop the concept of naval aviation, but also gave the motivation for other leading countries of the world to follow. (Sitz, 1930) Since that first
2
landing, the Navy has projected aircraft carriers as a symbol of our military power overseas.
Throughout the 20th century we have seen carriers at the front of battle in conflicts around the world starting with WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, and most recently Libya.
“The aircraft carrier – because of it’s mobility, its versatility, and the capabilities that it …show more content…

(Sweetman, 2007)
Unlike the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper used by the Air Force, the UCAS is being developed with consideration for future threats and for operations in contested airspace. While the X-47B is not entirely stealthy like the Air Force’s F-22 Raptor or the future F-35C, it’s being built as a low-observable aircraft with a tailless design intended to decrease the radar crosssection
(RCS), which will make it more difficult for enemy radar to detect. The UCLASS competition is aimed at developing an aircraft fit for the suppression of enemy air defense
(SEAD) mission. This will allow the aircraft to enter enemy airspace and attack SAMs with little chance of being detected. (Harrington, 2010) The S-300, also known as the SA-20 in
NATO terms, is one of the most potent surface-to-air missiles and is seen in many advanced countries such as China, North Korea, and Syria with the most recent development of Iran looking to purchase the missile from Russia. (Harrington, 2010) While the ability to operate near these enemy air defense systems undetected is still yet to be seen, the Navy will certainly be challenged to created an autonomous aircraft that can effectively defeat these advanced

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