Defence written question – answered at on 19 December 2013.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2013, Official Report, column 849W, on unmanned aerial and marine vehicles, what assessment he has made of the potential use of unmanned vehicles for maritime reconnaissance by the Air ISTAR Optimisation Study.
The initial findings of the Air ISTAR Optimisation Study (AIOS) indicate that, in the short to medium timescale (now to 2025), unmanned air systems (UAS) could provide a capability covering unit and force protection—but not wide area surveillance—above water. Unmanned wide area surveillance for anti- submarine warfare (ASW) would be more challenging before 2035. Further work is needed to understand: the specific capabilities that could be delivered and how they could be integrated, air worthiness certification and the affordability of such systems. The next phase of the AIOS will consider the role of UAS in order to inform decisions leading up to and part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review planned in 2015.
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