Hypothesis about cost-effective unmanned offensive airplane vehicles

The paper shows the logical process carried out in order to define, in a preliminary way, concepts of cost-effective Unmanned Offensive Airplane Vehicles (UOAV). In particular, the goal is to explore the feasibility of a system whose size and performances are reduced if compared with the ones expected by UAVs now under development. However, they are more affordable and quite effective. On the basis of mission requirements, some configurations have been considered and they will be presented by describing the logical paths explaining the evolution from each one to the others. All concepts presented will be examined and technically considered, in particular the last one. This concept will also be the object of a preliminary comparative evaluation from the point of view of efficacy and costs. From the educational point of view, this study is considered as a first step towards a more detailed activity which foresees an important involvement of students.