Thanks to This New Spy Plane the U.S.'s Eyes in the Sky Just Got Sharper |  The National InterestMany are of the view that stealth rules the day, along with small drones and unmanned systems. But when it comes to aerial surveillance, larger, fixed-wing surveillance platforms, while less stealthy, can still massively impact the speed and operational effectiveness in major power maneuver warfare. This is due to their ability to provide targeting at long stand-off distances and bring “on location” manned, real-time command and control at the point of attack.

 

Human decisionmaking faculties can bring an irreplaceable combat advantage at the point of targeting and potential attack in the air that computer algorithms can’t.

While of course still useful for counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations, challenges which are not going away entirely, larger manned information, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) planes, like those that conduct target acquisition (ISTAR), can prove even more impactful in a major conflict against a sophisticated adversary, provided operators make some key tactical adjustments...MORE

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