Knowledge Tree
unmanned aerial systems
Also known as: UAS, UASs, uncrewed aircraft systems, uncrewed aerial systems, uncrewed aircraft, unmanned aerial systems
Facts (14)
Sources
Consequences of the Russia-Ukraine War and the Changing Face ... rand.org May 22, 2025 12 facts
claimFuture technological advances are expected to enable the development of faster uncrewed aerial systems (UASs) with greater autonomy, which will reduce their vulnerability and improve their agility.
claimThe U.S. Department of Defense should assess how increasing reliance on uncrewed aerial systems (UASs) affects adversary perceptions, as these systems could either enhance deterrence by signaling improved capability or increase the risk of miscalculation if perceived as a sign of U.S. unwillingness to take casualties.
perspectiveIncreasing reliance on uncrewed aerial systems (UASs) presents a risk of miscalculation if adversaries perceive the deployment as a sign of U.S. unwillingness to take casualties in defense of NATO allies, though it could enhance deterrence if perceived as an improvement in U.S. capability to defeat aggression.
claimIn the Russia-Ukraine war, artillery has been the primary method for delivering mass, but uncrewed aircraft systems (UASs) are increasingly being used as massed attack weapons.
claimUncrewed aerial systems (UASs) have become central to warfare, with both Russian and Ukrainian forces utilizing one-way attack UASs to deliver payloads at long ranges.
claimTechnological advances are expected to enable states to develop faster uncrewed aerial systems (UASs) with greater autonomy, which will likely reduce their vulnerability and improve their agility.
claimIn the war in Ukraine, uncrewed aircraft systems (UASs) are increasingly used as massed attack weapons alongside artillery.
perspectiveThe U.S. Department of Defense should update U.S. and NATO plans for deterrence against Russia to incorporate lessons learned from the fighting in Ukraine, such as the increased role and capabilities of uncrewed aerial systems (UASs).
claimIncreasing reliance on uncrewed aerial systems (UASs) presents a dual risk to deterrence: if adversaries perceive UASs as improving U.S. capability to defeat aggression, it enhances deterrence, but if they perceive it as a U.S. unwillingness to take casualties, it could increase the risk of miscalculation.
claimSince February 2022, the United States and its allies have made modest changes to their defense industrial bases, including reshaping budgeting and procurement to prioritize the production of small uncrewed aircraft systems.
claimThe U.S. military has applied insights from the fighting in Ukraine, such as the increased role and capabilities of uncrewed aerial systems (UASs), to the Indo-Pacific region.
claimDue to their low cost, uncrewed aircraft systems (UASs) could serve as a sustainable complement to artillery in protracted conflicts.
How NATO can integrate AI to prevail in future algorithmic warfare atlanticcouncil.org 4 days ago 2 facts
referenceMilitary classification models are currently used for computer vision, facial and object recognition, and behavior detection, allowing for the identification of vehicles, aircraft, ships, and infrastructure in imagery from satellites, aircraft, and unmanned aerial systems (UASs).
claimOnboard AI enables uncrewed aircraft, ground vehicles, and maritime platforms to filter and fuse sensor inputs, navigate in contested environments, and transmit relevant information to human controllers.