Drachinifel points to recent reports of Russian reconnaissance drones using rear-facing sensors to detect approaching threats and begin programmed evasive manoeuvres. The sensor type remains uncertain: lidar, radar, and cameras are offered as possibilities. A remotely controlled aircraft can be vulnerable when its operator is watching the target area and never sees a missile approaching from elsewhere. Autonomous detection and evasion could reduce that dependence on the operator's field of view, including under heavy jamming. Technology small enough for expendable reconnaissance drones could also be applied to larger aircraft. The resulting carrier drones might gain substantial defensive and offensive autonomy sooner than expected, bypassing an intermediate generation mainly carrying extra weapons for crewed fighters.
Notable Point · 2:16:27-2:19:59
Autonomous evasion and the next carrier drones
Small reconnaissance drones in Ukraine suggest how autonomous threat detection and evasive manoeuvres could improve the survivability of larger uncrewed aircraft.