Ideas for USAF RPV Development (A Transcript of an Informal Talk).

W. B. Graham

Expert InsightsPublished 1974

The remotely piloted vehicles (RPV) idea is an improved way to control and guide ordnance. The essence of the improvement is the real-time utilization of man's inherent capabilities of discrimination and decision which let him stay remote from the actual firing zone. RPVs are not limited to one-way or two-way vehicles, cruise or ballistic vehicles. All the technology needed for building a wide variety of RPVs is already available and, in many cases, demonstrated. The most important area for creative work is operational experimentation. Extended operational trials are needed to improve understanding of how these new gadgets work in combat. Paper studies can support but not substitute for full-scale operational experiments. A philosophy of RPV development is suggested, leading to a plan of action: build some very simple, cheap systems, test them to learn from the tests. Then go on to build some other types, extending their range or whatever performance measure seems to be most important based on the tests of the earlier RPVs. 9 pp.

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Graham, W. B., Ideas for USAF RPV Development (A Transcript of an Informal Talk). Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 1974. https://www.rand.org/pubs/papers/P5329.html.
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