The technology of WAR moves on.  A new Russian unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) called the Skat was on display August 24th at Russia's MARK 2007 air show.  Having spent time in the old U.S.S.R. and a bit familiar with the Russian mindset I would say ...the Skat should not be underestimated.

Our USA unmanned aerial vehicles program has reached the point where the different branches of our services are in a bit of a squabble over which branch is to be dominate in the US unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) develoopment.

With each branch of our services pursuing its own UAV development program (sometimes in cooperation with one another) the Army, Navy and Marine Corps are deeply concerned.  It would seem that the Air Force may be a logical choice for coordinating important aspects of the various UAV programs.

FYI much of the program development takes place below 3,500 feet but...there are some facinating experimentation taking place at higher altitudes.

I am sure that no branch of the US armed forces fully understand the true promise of the UAV technology.  How could they....after all it has just "gotten off the ground". 

With the Russian UCAV called the Skat and our UAV's (ours have already seen service in the skies over Afghanistand and Iraq) it will be interesting to see how these 'unmanned WAR tools play out.