"Unmanned vehicle systems have in recent years emerged as increasingly important war-fighting tools, most prominently in the airborne arena. Two factors have generally influenced the proliferation of unmanned air vehicles (UAV's): technological advances in platforms, propulsion, navigation and control systems and sensor payloads; and a military-political environment that has become increasingly averse to even the most moderate levels of attrition. Consequently commanders on the land battlefield have quickly seized upon the ability of UAV's to conduct intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), target acquisition, battle damage assessment and communications relay, at long-range and without risk to the operator."