THE FUTURE UNMANNED BATTLEFIELD maybe some time off, but many of the components and technologies envisaged in such a landscape are already in operational use. From tried and tested Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, to Unmanned Surface Vessels in operation with the Singaporean and Israeli Armed Forces, these systems are causing a major paradigm shift in current Asian military thinking.

The role of Unmanned Systems in modern warfare constantly evolves, with armed forces worldwide beginning to explore the possibilities offered by unmanned systems as both sensor and weapons platforms. Continued advancement in unmanned systems technology is pushing the performance barriers to their limit, and thus creating multi-role multi-mission platforms capable of, amongst other roles: • Target designation, • Strike, • Mine countermeasures, • Counter-IED measures, • And the traditional Surveillance and Reconnaissance roles Seen as one of the key drivers in the doctrinal shift towards network centric capabilities in Asia, Unmanned Systems Asia 2008 provide the first tangible opportunity to create integrated C2 and sensor to shooter networks. This, coupled with their multi-role multi-mission capability, marks these defence systems as true force multipliers.