Can Manned Combat Aircraft Do What Unmanned Combat Aircraft Do?

In the last quarter century, unarmed unmanned aircraft (UAVs), first for reconnaissance purposes, and then armed unmanned aircraft (UCAVs) have come to the fore in military aviation.

Especially with the influence of Hollywood, the MQ-9 Reaper, also known as Predator B, which made its first flight in 2001, became the most well-known UCAV in the world, but the TB2 Bayraktar, which entered the arena 13 years later, was far ahead of the MQ-9 Reaper worldwide as a combat proven UCAV that has proven its combat capability many times over.

TB2 Bayraktar was actively used by the Turkish Armed Forces in military operations south of our southeastern border and in the Second Libyan Civil War. It also played an active role in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War by the Azerbaijani Air Force. In this operation, 535 of the 772 targets neutralised by the Azerbaijani Army were neutralised by Bayraktar TB2s. During Russia's invasion of Ukraine, it was used extensively by Ukraine against Russia, and continues to be used.

The prominence of UCAVs, especially in the fight against terrorist forces harassing state forces under conditions of irregular warfare, and in regular wars that do not require heavy air power support, has also revealed an ongoing and much discussed debate.

‘Can UAVs & UCAVs Perform the Tasks Performed by Manned Fighter Aircraft?’

Most of the time, the answer to this question was ‘no, UAVs & UCAVs cannot do what manned fighter jets do’, based on the performance and capacities of today's UCAVs and manned fighter jets.

However, the following question has not been asked and discussed much so far; ‘well, will Manned Combat Aircraft be able to do what UAVs & UCAVs do?’

In most cases, UAVs & UCAVs can use the advantages of small body, low speed and high manoeuvrability. These features provide them with serious advantages, especially in rugged terrains and built-up areas.

A. Which missions do unmanned combat aircraft perform better than manned combat aircraft?

Unmanned combat aircraft (UAVs & UCAVs) can successfully perform various missions and offer some advantages over manned aircraft. Here are some missions that UAVs & UCAVs are particularly good at:

1. Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR): UAVs can be equipped with high-resolution cameras and sensors to monitor large areas over long periods of time. Unlike manned aircraft, users and operators can make changes and continuous monitoring can be provided.

2. Attack and Precision Strike: UCAVs can attack specific targets by carrying precision-guided ammunition. In this way, they minimise civilian casualties and neutralise targets with pinpoint strikes. For example, it is very difficult in practice to hit the entrance of a terrorist cave on a valley slope with a manned fighter jet, but you can easily neutralise this target with a UCAV carrying several small missiles.

3. Electronic Warfare: UAVs & UCAVs can neutralise the enemy's communication and defence systems by jamming electronic signals or misleading enemy radars more effectively than high-speed and large-bodied manned aircraft in rugged terrain conditions.

4. Target Detection and Marking: UAVs & UCAVs can identify and mark targets for manned aircraft or other weapon systems using laser target designators.

5. Dangerous Missions: UAV&UAVs can operate in high-risk environments such as hostile airspace or intense conflict zones, thus ensuring the safety of pilots.

Unmanned combat aircraft have played an important role in military operations over the last quarter century due to their effectiveness in these missions.

The debate between manned and unmanned combat aircraft is an important issue for the defence industry and military strategies. Both technologies have their own advantages and disadvantages.

B. It is unlikely that manned combat aircraft will be able to completely replace unmanned combat aircraft. There are several reasons for this:

1. Technological Developments and Autonomy:

- Unmanned UAVs and UCAVs are able to perform increasingly complex missions thanks to advances in artificial intelligence and autonomous systems. In particular, artificial intelligence accelerates the decision-making processes of these vehicles and reduces the need for human intervention.

- Manned combat aircraft, on the other hand, are subject to the physical and mental limitations of pilots. For example, exposure to high G-forces can adversely affect the performance of pilots.

2. Risks and Losses:

- UAVs & UCAVs do not put human life at risk, especially in dangerous missions. This is a great advantage in terms of minimising losses in military operations.

- Manned combat aircraft, on the other hand, put the lives of pilots at risk, and in the event of a plane being shot down, both material and moral losses are greater.

3. Cost and Efficiency:

- UAVs & UCAVs are generally less costly than manned combat aircraft. In addition, they can be more efficient in long-duration missions because they do not have limitations due to the human factor (such as fatigue, loss of concentration).

- Manned combat aircraft, on the other hand, are more expensive due to pilot training, life support systems and other human factors-related costs.

4. Flexibility and Versatility:

- UAVs & UCAVs are particularly effective in missions such as reconnaissance, surveillance and target detection. They can also manage more complex operations thanks to their ability to operate in swarms.

- Manned combat aircraft, on the other hand, have a wider range of missions and can perform better, especially in dynamic and uncertain environments. Pilots can make more flexible decisions in unexpected situations.

What will be the roles of unmanned and manned combat aircraft in future air warfare?

- In the future, unmanned combat aircraft are expected to develop further and become autonomous. However, it is unlikely that manned fighter aircraft will disappear completely. Instead, a hybrid approach in which manned and unmanned systems work together is more likely. For example, manned combat aircraft could control or conduct operations alongside unmanned aerial vehicles.

Conclusion:

Just as UAVs & UCAVs have not yet fully replaced manned combat aircraft, manned combat aircraft cannot fully replace UAVs & UCAVs. Instead, a scenario in which both technologies complement each other by utilising their respective advantages is more likely. In the future, a hybrid air warfare concept in which manned and unmanned systems work in an integrated manner may come to the fore. This could both increase operational flexibility and minimise risks.

UAVs & UCAVs offer many advantages over manned combat aircraft, such as longer flight time, lower operational costs and no pilot risk. However, manned combat aircraft also have their own advantages, especially for complex missions that require human intelligence and experience.

In the future, the integration of manned and unmanned systems could bring together the best of both worlds. Manned combat aircraft can direct drones and make more strategic decisions, while drones can undertake more risky and dangerous missions.

In other words, while there is no complete substitution between manned fighter jets and unmanned fighter jets, both types can be used in a complementary manner and offer more effective solutions for future military operations.