Aircraft, UCAVs: an uneasy mix

There exist some reservations at the Pentagon that the diverse mix of manned and unmanned aircraft for strike and reconnaissance missions in the 21st century, may be much harder to monitor, control and clear for attack than previously anticipated by planners. Among the foremost concerns is the ability of unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) to engage previously undetected air defenses, while defending, and simultaneously operating with, manned aircraft in a mixed force. Another regard is the dependability of long-range data and command communication links, with which UAVs will exchange information from so-called mother aircraft and other command platforms, amid heavy electronic jamming.