Förarlösa plan har nu gått från enbart spanings- till attackuppgifter. Deras historia från de haj-liknande dronerna som fotograferade Nordvietnams luftförsvar på 1970-talet till moderna Alien-liknande Global Hawk, flygande tefatet Dark Star och Predator- beväpnad med markmålsrobotar- finns med, men även amerikanska flottans radiostyrda minihelikopter Firefly testas. Allt som allt ett 20-tal spanings- och attack-droner presenteras med imponerande bilder, deras teknologi, prestanda, utveckling och flyghistoria.
127 sidor, 21x27 cm, hft. 138 färg och 22 s/v fotografier.Utgivarens beskrivning:
Nowhere in the world of military technology is the transition from science fiction to science fact more astounding than in the dark world of autonomous aerial combat vehicles. Before there were autonomous war machines, there were unmanned war machines. After a brief history of unmanned aerial vehicles, we reach the autumn of 2001. At that time, unmanned, remotely-piloted reconnaissance aircraft were first adapted for offensive combat operations. However, even at that time, work was already progressing on the first generation of combat aircraft that could both fly AND fight without crews.
- Latest technology in the quest for the "robotic battlefield"
- Subject of a "PBS" documentary and "History Channel" specials
- Another key anti-terrorist weapon (and so far, very successful)