Low Cost Tactical RPVs.

R. H. Jacobson

Expert InsightsPublished 1972

Points out the need to make and operate remotely piloted vehicles (RPVs) much less expensively than aircraft. Discusses the potential for providing low-cost, tactical RPVs, with emphasis on innovative R&D approaches to establishing their logistic and maintenance characteristics. Costs can be reduced by establishing practical, yet minimal performance requirements, bearing in mind that RPVs are not expected to survive more than 10 to 20 sorties, since they will be used primarily in the most heavily defended environments. Costs can also be reduced by establishing RPVs that will require a minimum number of skilled personnel; i.e., design vehicles in modular form--major components that can be easily and rapidly removed and replaced when necessary, using commercial quality components and materials and developing automated production techniques. This can ultimately lead to throwaway components, which in turn can revolutionize the maintenance and support required and effect greatly reduced life-cycle costs. 12 pp.

Document Details

Citation

Chicago Manual of Style

Jacobson, R. H., Low Cost Tactical RPVs. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 1972. https://www.rand.org/pubs/papers/P4902.html.
BibTeX RIS

This publication is part of the RAND paper series. The paper series was a product of RAND from 1948 to 2003 that captured speeches, memorials, and derivative research, usually prepared on authors' own time and meant to be the scholarly or scientific contribution of individual authors to their professional fields. Papers were less formal than reports and did not require rigorous peer review.

This document and trademark(s) contained herein are protected by law. This representation of RAND intellectual property is provided for noncommercial use only. Unauthorized posting of this publication online is prohibited; linking directly to this product page is encouraged. Permission is required from RAND to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any of its research documents for commercial purposes. For information on reprint and reuse permissions, please visit www.rand.org/pubs/permissions.

RAND is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. RAND's publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors.