UAVs or as we used to call them, drones, have been around almost as long as manned powered flight. In fact, some would say they predated manned powered flight as often designers of aircraft would build scale models to ensure that the designs were sound. This book is particularly focusing on those vehicles that were designed around a mission, be that reconnaissance or attack.

The US Navy has often been interested in specially built UAVs, starting in 1917 with the Curtiss-Sperry Flying Bomb that was undergoing testing when WWI ended and interest faded. The next successful program was the Loon, based on reverse engineering of the German V-1 cruise missile. The first solely US designed  project that was successful was the Regulus cruise missile. This was operationally deployed aboard submarines that were specifically designed or modified to carry it. The last operational cruise of this missile was in 1964 so it led a relatively productive life.

The book goes on to cover other UAVs such as the Firebee and DASH and Chukar vehicles. The first of what we now think of as the UAV was the RQ-2 Pioneer that was used in Desert Storm as a spotter for the USS Missouri and for Marine artillery. This is shown on the book cover. Since then, things have really started rolling with the Navy getting involved with the Fire Scout, Global Hawk and X-47 program to name just a few.

The author provides a short historical background on all the various systems that have been developed as well as those which stayed in prototype stage and those that are being developed. It is a fascinating look at what is bound to be the future of military aviation to some extent or another. It is a book that I found to be a fascinating read and one that I can easily recommend to you.

May 2010

My thanks to Squadron Products for the review copy. Get yours today at your favorite shop or on-line retailer.

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