Unmanned Aerial Logistics Vehicles: A Concept Worth Pursuing?

Presently, United States Army battlefield supply distribution does not involve unmanned aerial logistic vehicles. The United State military's Joint Vision 2020 and its tenet of Focused Logistics provide vision for force development allowing for the exploration of the unmanned aerial logistics vehicles concept. This thesis explores the primary research question: Could the United States Army benefit by pursuing an unmanned aerial logistic vehicle concept? Secondary questions are defined and addressed: (1) Can unmanned aircraft realize a logistic supply delivery process? (2) Which of the possible unmanned aircraft processes is the recommended process? and (3) Which existing logistic processes are to be improved? All questions are explored by applying the Wisconsin 7-Step Problem-Solving Strategy: stating the problem, determining solution criteria, gathering needed information, generating potential solutions, comparing solutions and the problem, selecting the solution, and preparing communications. Multiple unmanned aerial logistics concept options provide potential solutions involving unmanned fixed-wing aircraft, rotary-wing aircraft, blimps, and precision airdrop systems, alone or in combination, and each yielding potential benefits when compared to existing supply distribution processes. Were an unmanned aerial logistic vehicle system actualized, some part of the United States Army's existing supply distribution process could be improved.