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UAVs have been used primarily by US forces as part of the global
war on terror (GWOT). Predators were employed to support Special
Forces operating over mountainous area in Afghanistan and Northern
Iraq. Predators launched their Hellfired into a "basket",
where the missiles could lock on the target, illuminated by
laser designators operated by Special Forces teams which roamed
the area, tracking their targets on the ground, waiting for
an opportunity to launch an attack. These teams could also benefit
from imagery transmitted from the UAVs, patrolling the area
at high altitude.
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Evolving concepts of operation call for the simultaneous and
coordinated operation of multiple UAVs, operated partly autonomously,
while mutually supporting each other with ISR and weapons coverage.
Such constellations of UAVs are providing warfighters with rapid
response when engaging time critical targets (TCT) at reduced
rate of response between target detection, targeting and engagement.
More covertly, such platforms were reportedly employed by the
Israelis throughout their recent conflict with the Palestinians,
performing many 'targeted killings', on terrorists as they were
spotted by Israeli intelligence, moving openly in the streets
of the Gaza strip. The types of weapons used by the Israeli
UAVs have not been disclosed, but according to Palestinian reports,
a gradual evolution of weapons has been encountered during the
years since the beginning of the Intifada in 2000. In recent
years, the damages inflicted by the Israeli aerial launched
weapons became more focused, more lethal, indicating of smaller,
accurate weapons, designed to minimize collateral damage while
enabling accurate and effective engagement of mobile targets
in complex urban environment. According to foreign sources,
various constellations of weaponized UAV swarms were employed
over South Lebanon during the 2nd Lebanon War in the summer
of 2006, in effort to hunt Hezbollah rocket launchers scattered
in hidden lairs around this area.
Topics covered in this article:
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