Evolution or revolution? the rise of UAVs

Evolutionary trends in pilotless aircraft need to be identified and put in context. Instead of focusing on trends in the technical development of pilotless aircraft, in this article the pilotless aircraft concept will be tracked through its various incarnations over time. Since unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are often included in the ongoing revolution in military affairs, they are seen as a new concept, created for the age of "information warfare" and "net-centric operations." Rather than being a new and revolutionary idea, pilotless aircraft are a tried and true branch of military research and development. All the arguments in this article will focus on the United States military and exclude unmanned platforms such as satellites, ground vehicles, and unpowered aircraft