As the United States continues to develop military technology used for warfare, the need for human interface seems to decrease. Most of the technology seen in today’s world is capable of taking care of most simple tasks, allowing the jobs of both the civilian and the soldier to be much more manageable. However, as technology continues to develop, we begin to see that what once viewed as science fiction is now reality. UAVs or Drones are one such instance where what was once seen as an exclusive human trade can now be done with very minimal human interaction. The development of the drone has sparked a debate over whether or not the pilot is needed in today’s warfare. At first glance, the average person would agree that the fighter pilot is no longer needed because of the drone, stating it’s safer and more effective for today’s military operations. However, many military officials view that while the drone is good at what it currently does, it cannot completely replace the responsiveness and combat capabilities a fighter pilot can bring to the battlefield.

The unmanned aerial vehicle, or UAV, is being used extensively in the current operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. It plays a vital role in surveillance and precision airstrikes. Because drones are unmanned, they have the “ability to loiter for long periods” (Campell 14), gathering intelligence or waiting for the opportune moment to strike an enemy target, and because there is no human pilot in the cockpit of a drone, there is no risk of human casualty. Drones are also less expensive than fighter jets. If the US military invested in more drones than fighter aircraft, they could easily expand their drone fleet and be able to meet the growing demand for drone operations in the Middle East. Drones also have an optimistic future due to the continued development of technology, which could result in the drone matching or even exceeding the capabilities of a manned fighter aircraft.

However, the drone is not without its faults. With this continued development, we are seeing a rise in the prices of drones, which may soon reach or exceed the cost of a conventional fighter aircraft. In addition, “unmanned aircraft have flown only in uncontested airspace” (Chopra) because drones cannot defend against air to air threats, thus limiting where they can be deployed. Such an example would be the recent airstrikes in Syria. Due to potential aerial threat, drones could not be used or they would have simply been intercepted and shot down before they could attack their target. The drone is also susceptible to problems with its operating crew. Drone operation consists of “young service personnel subjected to long hours of boredom while in control of lethal technology” (Cole 23). This can lead to the crew forgetting that they are launching munitions at places where real people live, resulting in unnecessary collateral damage and civilian casualties. According to Amitai Etzioni, “some hold that the number of civilians killed amounts to an overwhelming majority of all those killed” (Etzioni 2). Drones also have a limited view of the situation happening on the battlefield, due to a limited number of cameras and the fact that the operator is not actually there assessing the situation with his own eyes. In addition, because the operator is not on the battlefield and in a life or death situation, it is much harder for the drone to adapt to a new situation and counter the effects it might have.

The manned fighter aircraft, while believed by many as outdated, can offer just as much to the battlefield, if not more, as the drone. Fighter pilots are trained for at the very least a year and offer “an infinitely more adaptable platform and are irreplaceable when considering the high-threat environments of future wars” (Malandrino and Mclean). The fighter pilot is trained to adapt to any situation the battle can throw at him and counter it with speed and effectiveness. The fighter pilot has a full and direct view of the battlefield below him and has a closer connection with the men on the ground he is providing support for. The fighter pilot can be equipped with both air to air or air to ground weapons, making the fighter pilot a highly versatile tool on the battlefield. In addition, the aircraft fighter pilots operate are faster, more maneuverable and can carry more ordinance than a drone. Fighter pilots are also equipped with anti-missile counter measures that allow them to defend against attack should they engage with enemy aircraft or anti-air ground forces. This combined with the previously stated armament that fighter pilots go in battle with, allows a fighter pilot to engage in combat anywhere in the world, where as a drone could not due to its inability to defend against attack.

However, the fighter pilot also has his drawbacks. The first of these draw backs is simply that he is human. Having a fleet of fighter jets requires pilots to operate them with the knowledge that they are in the profession of war and that this could result in injury or death. The fighter pilot is also susceptible to GLOC, or gravity induced loss of consciousness. GLOC results when the pilot performs a high-G maneuver, putting up to 9 times the pilot’s weight on his body, resulting in the blood being pulled from his head into his extremities thus ending in the pilot losing consciousness. This is also another risk that the pilot must face, because if a fighter pilot GLOCs during aerial combat it could result in his death. In addition, the pilot is not able to stay as long on the battlefield as a drone, due to fuel usage and fatigue. The fighter pilot is essentially held back by his human boundaries and can only perform his mission as long as these boundaries will take him.

In conclusion, the drone offers an excellent tool for surveillance and long term target tracking, but when it comes to performing in a combat situation, the pilot’s adaptability and skill can change the tide of battle in the air or on the ground. However it is important to remember that neither has to submit to the other, instead a conjunctive use of drone and pilot could combine the best of both weapons systems, resulting in even more effective and efficient combat missions.

Works Cited

Campell, Lloyd. “The Debate: Manned vs Unmanned.” Frontline Defence 8.2 (2011): 14-15.             Web. 27 Feb. 2015.

Chopra, Anil. “Manned vs Unmanned.” SP’s Aviation (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 27 Feb. 2015.

Cole, Chris. “Rise Of The Drones.” New Internationalist 448 (2011): 22-23. Academic             Search Complete. Web. 27 Feb. 2015.

Etzioni, Amitai. “The Great Drone Debate.” Military Review 93.2 (2013): 2-13. Academic             Search Complete. Web. 27 Feb. 2015.

Malandrino, Greg, and Jeff MClean. “The Unmanned Wingman.” Foreign Policy (2013): n. pag.     Web. 27 Feb. 2015.