Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), the New Actors of War: Historical Development, Current Situation and Future
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17206290Keywords:
Military unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), Challenges facing UAVs, Future of UAVsAbstract
This study aims to examine the historical development of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the military domain, identify key milestones and operational roles throughout this process, analyze the technical and operational challenges encountered, and provide solution proposals along with evaluations of potential future roles based on recent technological advancements. Accordingly, a systematic literature review method was adopted. Using predefined search criteria, 236 documents were retrieved from the Google Scholar database, and relevant sources were selected and analyzed based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The findings reveal that UAVs were initially used as targets in the early 1900s and gradually evolved to fulfill roles in reconnaissance, surveillance, combat, electronic warfare, and logistical support. Major challenges identified include limited battery capacity, insufficient collision avoidance, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and payload constraints. It is concluded that wireless power transfer, artificial intelligence, and swarm technologies will play a critical role in shaping the future of military UAVs.
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