U.S. Employment of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Background on the Use of Drones by Military Services
Since 1917, United States military services have researched and employed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Over that time, they have been called drones, robot planes, pilotless aircraft, remotely piloted vehicles (RPVs), remotely piloted aircraft (RPAs), and other terms describing aircraft that fly under control with no person aboard. They are most often called UAVs, and when combined with ground control stations and data links, form unmanned aerial systems, or UAS. The Department of Defense (DOD) defines UAVs as powered, aerial vehicles that do not carry a human operator, use aerodynamic forces to provide vehicle lift, can fly autonomously or be piloted…
