SHIPBOARD SUITABILITY AND THE UAV

This paper examines the issues of shipboard suitability and relates those issues that the Navy has defined in their preliminary requirements for Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV). Beginning with the recent history of maritime UAV successes, the future of Naval UAV missions and operating platforms will be presented. Shipboard suitability considerations and issues will then be introduced and linked to design requirements. These shipboard suitability elements will be key factors in overall Naval combat effectiveness.