Stop calling Switchblades ‘drones’ — it’s causing policy confusion
Words matter, especially when it comes to understanding and overseeing new military technologies. That is why it is especially important to be deliberate and precise in how we talk…
Pentagon seeks sale of armed UAVs to Ukraine, approval remains murky
The US Department of Defense (DoD) intends to sell four General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-1C Gray Eagle remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) to Ukraine, as that country’s war against invading Russian…
As Drones Grow More Sophisticated, Export Rules Still Stuck in 1980s, Experts Say
As the Air Force moves forward with plans to use unmanned aircraft systems in new and increasingly powerful ways, the U.S. is still stuck in terms of how much it can share those capabilities with allies…
Restrictions on drone exports hamper American foreign policy: Mitchell Institute
America’s aircraft export policy is flawed, inconsistent and hampering the country’s foreign policy. That is the conclusion of the Mitchell Institute, a Washington, DC-based think tank that focuses on aerospace…
Ukraine shows the need to change US export rules on unmanned systems
"How does it make sense that American troops would die on the behalf of NATO nations, but Washington doesn’t trust the countries with unmanned systems?," asks Heather Penney of the…
Beyond Pixie Dust
A framework for understanding and developing autonomy in unmanned aircraft. Nearly every vision, strategy, and flight plan the U.S. Air Force has released over the past decade identified next-generation unmanned…
Here’s why a no-fly zone over Ukraine is out of the question for the US and NATO
In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the West responded with devastating sanctions and a swift condemnation and isolation of Russia, as well as sending weapons and other support to…
Here’s why a no-fly zone over Ukraine is off the table
WASHINGTON — In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the West has responded with devastating sanctions and a swift condemnation and isolation of Russia as well as by sending arms and…
What Is Autonomy? This Framework Aims to Help Warfighters and Engineers Figure It Out
Autonomous aircraft (and land/sea vehicles) are already flying and on the cusp of operations. But as the military forges ahead, those who will team with these systems in the…
Unclear Definitions Risk to Success in Fielding Autonomous Aircraft
Successfully introducing new, unmanned aircraft in the Air Force, with varying degrees of autonomy, is at risk as long as there’s widespread disagreement about what an “autonomous” aircraft actually is,…