EXPO-SEDE_ET_2007_381405_EN.pdf — page 10

The very first UAV used by a European country was the US MQM-57 used by the UK from the 
late-1950s13. This crude UAV was replaced in the early 1970s by the Canadian CL-89, which 
also entered service with France, Germany and Italy. Other current EU Member States have 
been using UAVs on a limited scale. But it was not until the 1990s that European countries first 
used UAVs in a war zone14, or that most other European countries introduced UAVs. Today, the 
armed forces of almost all of them operate UAVs.  
 
Indeed, the use of UAVs is spreading around the world. They are being deployed even by 
developing countries like the Philippines (which bought UAVs from Israel in 2001 for use 
against rebel groups) and Nigeria (which bought them in 2006 for patrolling the Niger Delta).  
 
Today, UAVs range from extremely simple, short-range 'vehicles' for battlefield use, to multi-
million dollar 'aircraft' with almost global reach. However, except in respect of the really long-
range UAVs, it is not so much the UAV itself that is important, but the payload and the ground 
station capacities to process and disseminate data. Simple UAVs generally carry little more than 
a video camera that sends images over limited distances to a ground station that has limited links 
to other units. Larger UAVs can carry larger or different types of camera, while electronic 
intelligence systems (ELINT) and ground-surveillance radars are becoming common too. The 
ground stations are linked into a larger and faster network. 
 
The advantage of UAVs for reconnaissance is obvious: low cost, low visibility and unmanned. 
Most countries can easily afford them, while the loss of one does not cost much and leaves no 
pilot to be rescued. Especially against unconventional enemies such as rebel, terrorist and 
criminal groups, or when used in 'undeclared' wars (e.g. Israeli use of UAVs over Lebanon) the 
unmanned aspect of UAVs is a clear advantage. The fact that the vehicle does not need to 
accommodate a pilot makes it possible to keep it small, providing low visibility and enabling a 
stealthy approach. This means that a target is often unaware of being observed by the UAV (as 
often happened vis-à-vis Israeli UAVs over Lebanon).  
 
 
4. Current UAV/UCAV developments in the EU 
 
4.1 UAV acquisition and requirements 
 
Most EU members have either acquired or will soon acquire UAVs (see Table 1 for a 
comprehensive list). However, the combined EU efforts are small compared to the US 
acquisitions. As noted earlier, in three years (US Fiscal Years 2004, 2005 and 2006) the US 
bought 295 UAVs15. In the same period EU members bought less then 100. Budget-wise one 
can compare the US expenditure of US$2.66bn in just those three years, with the fact that the 
full UK Watchkeeper UAV programme, which covers most of UK UAV acquisitions for the 
coming decade, will cost about half of that expenditure. 
                                                
 
The most urgent requirements are for tactical, MALE and HALE long-range UAVs. 
Interestingly there seems to be less interest in mini- and micro-UAVs, despite the fact that 
several EU members are involved in conflicts where the US found a strong need for such 
systems. 
 
13 The MQM-57 was the first US UAV. 
14 The first operational use of a European UAV took place during the 1990-1991 Gulf War, when British forces 
used the CL-89, almost 20 years after it was first introduced in service. URL < http://www.sfu.ca/casr/bg-uav-
history.htm>. 
15 The Military Balance 2006, IISS, p. 20-22 and p. 26 (Routledge, UK, May 2006). 
 
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