Counter Narcotics Missions for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

<p>With the ongoing draw down of US military forces and shrinking budgets finding a more cost efficient means of accomplishing military missions is increasingly important. Current Department of Defense counter-narcotic missions operating in conjunction with U.S. Customs and the U.S. Coast Guard should consider using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) as adjunct to military forces or as the primary mission platform. UAVs have proven themselves as a valuable asset the military commander brings to the fight. Used effectively during military operations in Bosnia and Kosovo UAVs were limited to intelligence and reconnaissance missions. Given the capabilities of UAVs they can be more actively integrated into other military operations to enhance US military mission accomplishment. More specifically UAVs should be incorporated into Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) roles specifically tailored to meet the challenges of the counter-narcotic mission. To support this proposition my research will analyze current and proposed capabilities of UAVs as seen by military and industry leaders. Second the mission of counter narcotics ISR will be examined to identify matching capabilities to the mission.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>