"Tarver Engineering" wrote...

I see UAVs under the direct control of the men on the ground as the
replacement for the A-10. Some sort of game boy type interface to designate
targets would be all the human interface required. In that manner the
tendancy of the A-10 to make blue on blue incursions might be eliminated.

If anything, remote-controlled CAS platforms will increase blue-on-blue, and
they will likely be MORE vulnerable to defenses.

There is not a sensor available on any UAV that can provide the same real-time
situational awareness as a man in the cockpit. All current sensors are too
narrow in field of view and too slow in scan to give enough feedback to a remote
operator for real-time decision making.

Also, the weapon loadout in a UAV will not likely be as flexible as that on an
A-10, F/A-18, or follow-on manned airplane.