UAVs shrink as missions, and emerging technologies, grow

Remotely piloted air vehicles are getting smaller in size as technology permits previously unattainable performance from smaller packages.

It was inevitable that emerging technologies combining composite lightweight materials, electric motors, long-life battery power, and miniaturized electronic onboard systems would cascade the benefits of UAVs down the operational requirements chain so that real-time aerial imagery and positional data could be supplied to small combat units in the field, and even to individual soldiers.

Seeing over the next hill, or around the corner of the next building, is no longer dependent on calling in valuable and scarce air assets; instead, it can be achieved by launching and monitoring the results using small localized UAVs, often looking more like radio-controlled model airplanes than serious military assets.